THE  UNIVERSITY  OF 

NORTH  CAROLINA 

LIBRARY 


THE  VilLMER  COLLECTION 

OF  CIML  WAR  NOVELS 

PRESENTED  BY 

RICHARD  H.  WILMER,  JR. 


KILMER  COLLECT; 


THE 


TEST  OF  LOYALTY, 


B  T 


JAMES    M.    HIATT 


INDIANAPOLIS: 

MERRILL    AND    SMITH,     PUBLISHERS. 
18  64. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress  in  the  year  eighteen  hundred  and  sixty-four, 

BY    MERRILL    &    SMITH, 

In  the  Clerk's  oflBce  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States  for  the  District 
of  Indiana. 


TO 

WILLIAM    M.    FRENCH, 

THE  AUTHOR'S  TRUE  FRIEXE 

AXD 

LIBERAL  PATRON  IX  HIS  EARLY  LITERARY  EFFORTS, 

THI3  vroaK  13 

RESPECTFULLY    INSCRIBED, 

BY  THE  AUTHOR. 


602957 


PREFACE. 


It  will  bo  remembered  by  many  that,  during  the  year 
1S62,  a  number  of  soldiers  belonging  to  the  army  of  the 
North-west  deserted,  and,  returning  to  their  homes,  were 
concealed  by  disaffected  partisans.  The  hero  of  this  story 
has  been  selected  from  a  score  of  these,  personally  known 
to  the  author. 

The  idea  of  the  work  was  suggested  by  a  friend,  who 
conceived  that  such  a  production,  showing,  as  it  necessarily 
must,  the  influence,  for  evil,  exerted  upon  susceptible 
young  men  in  the  army  by  certain  political  malcontents, 
might  be  productive  of  good. 

The  statement  that  the  majority  of  the  characters  wno 
figure  here  are  real,  their  names  only  being  fictitious,  is 
scarcely  necessary,  as  many  of  them  will  be  readily  re- 
cognized. 

The  principal  scene  has  been  laid  in  and  about  thoHoosier 
capital,  for  two  reasons:  first,  because  the  author  is 
Hoosier,  and  is  partial  to   Iloosierdom;  second,  be'^ause  it 


6  PREFACE. 

is  mctc  thfit  the  most  gallant  of  the  North-western  States 
should  figure  in  the  romance  of  the  present  period.  She 
certainly  has  as  much  claim  to  such  notoriety  as  those 
rebellious  States,  which  have  hung  so  coaspicuously  hith- 
erto, in  the  gallery  of  fiction. 

If,  in  reading  this  story,  any,  who  have  heretofore  been 
blinded  by  the  opaque  goggles  of  party  devotion,  should 
have  their  eyes  opened  to  the  great  truth  that  Loyalty 
admits  of  no  ifs  or  buts;  if  any  should  be  convinced  that 
it  is  the  duty  of  every  American  to  lay  party,  property, 
life — all  upon  the  altar  of  Freedom,  then  shall  my  highest 
hopes  be  consummated. 

To  the  members  of  the  Metropolitan  Literary  Institute, 

who,  for  eight  years,  have  been  to  me  both  schoolmates 

and  teachers,  are  due  my  warmest  thanks  for  many  kind 

sucrgestions. 

The  ArxnoR. 


CHAPTER  I 


THE   ENLISTMENT.  i^v - 

'•Why,  George,  what  is  the  matter?  you  look  real  blue. 
Has  anything  unusual  happened  you?  "  said  Dora  Clinton 
to  her  brother,  unexpectedly  confronting  him,  as  he  stood 
on  the  old  porch  in  front  of  his  farm  home,  peering  into  his 
face  with  solicitous  inquisitiveness. 

'^Nothing  is  the  matter  with  me,  Dora,  but  the  country  1 
the  country  ! — that's  what  I'm  thinking  about.  To  go,  or 
not  to  go — that's  the  question.  Here's  the  corn  to  plant 
and  plow,  the  wheat  soon  to  cut — aH  the  season's  work 
to  do;  no  body  here  but  father,  if  I  leave— but— but,  I 
want  to  go  and  help  whip  the  secesh.  Nearly  all  the  rest 
of  the  boys  are  going,  and  I'd  like  right  well  to  go  with 
them,"  and  George  stepped  nervously  about  over  the  porch, 
as  though  he  were  caged.  Dora's  quick  eye  did  not  fail 
to  discern  his  embarrassment,  and  she  speedily  addressed 
herself  to  its  removal. 

"  Is  the  season's  work  all  that  bothers  you?" 
'•  Xot  all,  of  course;  but  that's  the  most." 
"  Well,  then,  go,  and  if  father  can  obtain  no  other  help, 
I'll  turn  out,  myself.     The  mothers  of  seventy-six  did  farm 
and  shop  work,  while  the  fathers  fought  the  battles  of  In- 
dependence, and  I  can  imitate  them." 

"Hurrah  for  you,  Dora!— plenty  of  Clinton  spirit  about 
you,  but  I  don't  know  so  well  about  the  ability." 


8  TIIK    TEST    OF    LOYALTY. 

"Ah!  don't  trouble  yourself  about  that.  A  woiikim  can 
do  anything  she  puts  her  head  to." 

While  Dora  and  George  were  thus  engaged,  their  father, 
a  grny-haired  veteran  of  the  war  of  1812,  stood  behind  the 
IVont  door,  which  opened  upon  the  porch,  listening,  Avon- 
dcring,  admiring;  and  upon  the  enunciation  of  Dora's  last 
>  iitence  he  could  not  refrain  from  interrupting  them.  Step- 
ping from  his  place-of  concealment  he  addressed  them: 

"Children,  I'm  proud  of  you.  The  blood  of  Seventy- 
six  runs  in  your  veins.  The  country  is  safe  while  such  as 
you  are  left." 

"George,  your  father  is  old,  but  the  danger  of  the  Gov- 
ernment makes  him  strong.  If  you  want  to  fight  for  the 
flag,  go.     The  old  man  can  take  care  of  the  farm." 

Mr.  Clinton's  broken  eloquence  caught  the  ear  of  a  cer- 
tain very  important  indiviual  of  the  feminine  gender,  whom 
v«-e  may  now  introduce  to  the  reader  as  3Irs.  Clinton — an 
old  lad}',  rather  low  in  stature,  stooped  in  form,  with  head 
frosted,  and  encased  in  a  enow-white,  heavy  frilled,  linen 
cap — eyes  small,  grey,  twinkling,  looking  through  a  pair  of 
old  fashioned  spectacles — features  sharj^'and  angular.  She 
wears  a  plain,  calico  dress — old  style — narrow  cape  and 
large,  checked  apron  with  a  pocket  in  it,  which  receptacle 
contains  a  ball  of  knitting  yarn,  a  thimble,  and  the  bureau, 
cupboard  and  smoke  house  keys.  Her  father  was  a  Vir- 
ginia  Democrat — a  fact  she  often  alludes  to  with  much 
pride — and  she  is  fond  of  telling  how  many  handsome 
young  men  she  refused  when  she  was  young,  because  they 
were  not  '-to  her  mind  in  politics. '^'  She  "  liked  Clinton, 
because  he  vvas  honest,  industrious,  good  looking,  but  she 
adored  him  because  he  was  a  Democrat."  She  is  now — in 
the  commencement  of  the  rebellion — of  the  opinion  that 
the  South  has   done   wi-on-^-.  but   thinks   Lincoln   to    blame 


THE   TEST   OF    LOTALTl'.  9 

for   the  war      "He   oughfnt  to  let  the  South  secede,  but 
ho  hain't  no  right  to  use  coercion,"  is  an  oft  repeated  say- 

iu"-  with  her.  „        ,  ,       i 

The  President  has  called  for  seTenty-five  thousand  vol- 
unteers, and  she  has  suffered  no  little  uneasiness  for  fear 
UourM  ''will  go  and  'list." 

Th^e  reader  may,  therefore,  imagine  her  feelings   upon  . 
overhearing  the  old  man's  talk  on  the  porch. 

"Talkin'  about  sendin'  George  to  ^ar,  hey?  exclaimed 
the  old  lady,  suddenly  appearing  in  the  midst  of  the  com- 
pany, and  wiping  the  dust  from  her  spectacles  An  13 
my  only  boy,  who's  allers  been  with  me,  except  when  ho 
was  to  collecre,  to  be  taken  from  me  now  in  my  ole  days," 
Oh,  this  horrid  war,  that  might  'a  been  avoided  as  well  as 
not  I     It'll  be  the  ruin  of  us  all  yet." 

"But,  mother,"  said  George,  "whether  it  might  have 
been  avoided  or  not,  it  is  now  upon  us,  and  if  we  don  t  do 
our  duty,  the  Government  you  always  taught  me  to  love 
will  be  destroyed.     Can't  you  see  that?  ' 

"Bravely  said,  my  boy,"  responded  the  father      "Wife, 
it  is  our  duty  to  give  our  son  to  the  country      It  has  al- 
ways blessed  us,  let  us  defend  it.     I'm  as  good  a  Demoera 
as  anybody;  don't  like  Lincoln  so  very  well;  but  it  isn. 
his  Government  any  more  than  mine  that's  in  danger 

m-    Clinton,   notwithstanding  her  strong  political  pre- 
judices, felt  the  force  of  these  remarks,  and,  not  so  muct 
.     'rom  any  conviction  of  duty  as  from  the  consciousness  or  her 
„,bility  to  withstand  the  positive  patriotic  element  with 
which  L  had  to  contend,  yielded  a  sort  of  a  -'-t^  ^udg-g 
■   .onsent  to  George's  enlistment.    George  did  not  fail  to  notice 
;h  frnd  it  tended,  in  no  small  degree  to  chill  the  patriotic 
rd  r  which  enthused  his  soul,   though  it  by  no    mea 
weakened  his  desire  to  support  his  country  m  her  hour  of 


10  THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY. 

peril.  Thinking  to  improve  his  own  feelings,  and,  per- 
haps, his  mother's  sentiments,  he  proposed  to  go  immedi- 
ately to  Indianapolis,  a  distance  of  about  three  miles,  and  en- 
ter the  ranks  of  his  country's  defenders,  which  proposition  was 
accepted.  A  horse  and  vehicle  were  now  brought  out,  and 
due  preparations  made  for  George's  departure.  The  whole 
family  accompauyed  him.  On  his  way  to  town,  he  took 
what  he  thought  might  be  his  last  look  at  all  the  famil- 
iar haunts  of  his  boyhood.  The  neighborhood  church;  the 
school  house  and  its  forest  play-ground;  the  woods  he  had 
often  strolled  with  his  sister,  in  summer,  in  quest  of  wild 
flowers,  and  ransacked  in  winter,  with  his  boyish  comrades, 
in  search  of  rabbits  and  coons,  were  the  scenes  of  pleasures 
and  sports  never  to  be  forgotten. 

He  had  heard  his  father  speak  of  the  imposing  grandeur 
of  the  mountain  scenery  of  Virginia  ;  but  this  he  had  never 
seen.  To  him  there  wa.s  a  beauty  about  the  broad,  level 
landscapes,  towering  old  forests,  and  wild,  tangled  copses 
X)f  Hoosierdom  which  could  not  be  surpassed  in  any  part 
of  the  world.  But  his  country  had  called  him,  and  he  had 
resolved  to  separate  himself  from  home  with  all  its  endeared 
surroundings,  and  even  to  c^uit  the  loved  society  of  parents 
and  sister  in  obedience  to  that  call. 

It  was  sad  to  leave,  perhaps  forever,  the  scenes  and 
friends  of  his  childhood,  but  it  was  soul  reviving  to  know 
that  he  was  to  be  numbered  among  those  immortal  patriots, 
who  to  preserve  the  American  Grovernment  from  the  politi- 
cal corruptions  of  the  Nineteenth  century  were  to  baptize 
it  with  their  blood.  Such  were  his  reflections  as  he  glided 
swiftly  over  the  level  pike  to  the  recruiting  office. 

But  little  was  said  by  the  family  while  on  the  road.  All 
were  too  deeply  absorbed  in  the  sad  change  that  had  come 
ever  a  once  peaceful  and  prosperous  country,  and  the  dis- 


^  THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY.  11 

turbances  it  had  caused  in  their  social  and  domestic  rela- 
tions to  talk  freely. 

If  the  reader  had  been  with  them,  however,  he  might 
have  read  in  the  clouded  brow  of  the  father,  and  the  glist- 
ening tears  which  stood  in  the  eyes  of  the  mother  and  sis- 
ter, no  less  than  in  the  ever-changing  features  of  George, 
something  of  the  character  of  the  feelings  which  occupied 
each. 

Having  arrived  at  Indianapolis,  George,  accompanied  by 
his  father,  repaired  immediately  to  a  recruiting  stand  and 
enlisted  in  a  company  composed  largely  of  his  old  associates. 
No  sooner  was  the  fact  known,  than  his  friends  gathered 
around  him,  warmly  shaking  his  hand  and  rending  the  air 
with  cheers  for  *' George  Clinton." 

One  after  another  came  forward  and  remarked:  "  I  knew 
George  was  too  brave  to  allow  others  to  do  his  fighting." 

Meantime,  Mr.  Clinton  had  been  accosted  and  called 
aside  by  3Ir.  Hardhead,  Esq.,  a  very  successful  criminal 
lawyer,  residing  in  the  metropolis,  and  the  following  con- 
versation occurred: 

"Mr.  Clinton,  why  do  you  encourage  your  son  to  enlist 
in  the  Lincoln  army?  How  does  it  come  that  so  sound  a 
Democrat  as  you  will  have  any  part  in  this  abolition  war? 
I'm  astonished!" 

"  Astonished,  that  I  should  forget  my  party  and  stand 
by  my  country  in  times  like  these?  And  I  don't  know  so 
well  about  its  being  and  'abolition  war.'  There's  a  good 
deal  that  goes  to  show  that  the  South's  been  getting  ready 
to  rebel  for  several  years.  Any  how,  we've  got  to  fight  it 
out  or  be  nobody." 

'•  Clinton,  havn't  you  been  to  some  of  the  Republican  war 
meetings  and  listened  to  some  of  those  Union  shriekers  who 
denounce  liberty  of  speech,  and  incite  mobs  to  hunt  down 


12  THE    TEST    OP    LOYALTY.  « 

the  few  remaining  Democrats  who  have  back-bone  enough 
to  express  their  opinion  of  this  abolition  crusade." 

"Hardhead,  what  do  you  mean?  Wasn't  you  a  Douglas 
man  in  18G0?  If  you  was,  what  makes  you  now  go  in 
for  the  fire-eaters,  when  you  know  they  were  the  worst  ene- 
mies Douglas  had?" 

Mr.  Clinton  was  a  man  of  moderate  education,  but  was 
very  eloquent  when  he  felt  deeply ;  and  on  this  occasion  he 
was  peculiarly  so,  in  so  much  that  Hardhead  felt  it  difficult 
to  manage  him. 

'•  AVell  now,  Mr.  Clinton,  if  you  must  know  it  I  will  tell 
you  the  secret.  I  never  was  a  friend  of  Douglas  after  he 
took  the  stand  he  did  against  the  Administration  on  the 
admission  of  Kansas  into  the  Union  with  the  Lecompton 
Constitution.  I  only  favored  the  Douglas  ticket  because- 
the  success  of  that  ticket  seemed  to  be  the  only  hope  of  de- 
feating the  abolitionists.  All  this  talk  about  popular  sover- 
eignty is  humbug.  The  right  of  a  territorial  population  to 
regulate  its  own  domestic  institutions  in  its  own  way  is  a 
Tery  pretty  thing  to  talk  about,  and  it  served  our  purpose 
very  well  in  the  election  of  Buchanan  in  fifty-six;  but 
when  yo'i  come  to  test  it,  it  is  found  to  be  impracticable 
and  unsafe." 

"  The  true  Democratic  doctrine  is  undoubtedly  that  which 
is  laid  down  in  the  Breckenridge  platform.  The  people  of 
all  parts  of  the  Union  have  an  equal  right  to  migrate  to  any 
territory  within  the  United  States,  taking  with  them  their 
property :  and  it  is  the  duty  of  the  Government  to  protect 
them  and  their  property  to  ihe  full  extent  of  its  powers." 

"  Now  it  is  for  the  equality  of  rights  in  the  territories 
that  the  South  is  fighting  to  day;  and  they  ought  to  fight 
for  it. 

"  Hardhead,  are  you  one  of  those  who  believe  that  it  is 
Vemuciatic  to  convert  this  Government  into  a  negro  pro- 


THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY.  13 

tecting  macliiiic,  and  by  it  to  force  slavery  upon  the  people 
in  a  territory,  whether  they  are  willing  or  not?  And  do 
you  go  against  the  majority  of  the  people  controlling  this 
Government,  just  because  that  majority  has  said  that  slavery 
is  'I  ;  o  no  further?" 
'•  No,  I  do  not  deny  the  right  of  the  majority  to  govern, 
but  I  deny  its  right  to  ojjpress  the  minority,  xiccording 
to  the  decision  of  the  supreme  court,  slaves  are  property 
any  where  within  the  United  States;  and  no  majority 
las  the  right  to  interfere  with  tlie  rights  of  property.  No 
jovernment  is  justifiable  in  encroaching  upon  the  rights 
of  the  people  of  one  section  that  it  may  promote  the  inter- 
ests of  another.  Our  fathers  rebelled  against  the  British 
'Government  because  it  tried  to  render  us  subservient  to  the 
interests  of  the  people  of  England;  and  Jefi".  Davis  and  the 
people  of  the  South  have  rebelled  against  this  Government 
because,  tQ  f^ivor  the  abolitionists,  it  aims  to  oppress  slave- 
holders. I  know  tha-t  these  Union  shriekers  tell  us  that 
no  overt  act  had  been  committ<3d;  but  the  Southern  people 
told  us  long  ago  that  they  would  consider  the  election  of  a 
sectional  candidate  an  overt  act,  and  a  just  cause  for  seces- 
sion. The  warning  has  been  fair,  but  the  abolitionists 
have  not  heeded  it.  They  have  brought  the  war  upon 
themselves  and  they  may  fight  it  out.  For  my  part  I  will 
have  nothing  to  do  with  it;  nor  will  any  other  true  Dem- 
ocrat. All  I  hope  is  that  the  South  may  give  the  Lincoln- 
ites  a  sound  thrashino;," 

Hardhead  continued  thus  delivering  himself  of  the 
most  treasonable  sentiments,  growing  more  and  more  out- 
rageous, until  a  crowd  of  excited  soldiers  hearing  him,  he 
found  it  necessary  to  Sisek  safety  in  the  bosom  of  his 
family. 

Clinton's  feelings,  upon  hearing  Hardhead's  disloyal 
expressions,  can    not  be    described.     He    had    previously 


14  THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY. 

placed  the  utmost  confidence  in  Hardhead;  had  regarded 
him  as  an  able  leader  in  the  Democratic  party,  and  a  true 
friend  of  Douglas;  had  voted  for  him  in  ISGO,  honestly 
believing  that  in  so  doing  he  was  supporting  the  doctrine 
of  non-intervention;  and  now  to  hear  him  not  only  repu- 
diating that  doctrino,  but  expressing  the  strongest  desires 
that  a  wicked  and  causeless  rebellion  might  sueeecd,  was 
something  for  which  he  was  by  no  means  prepared.  Hard- 
head had  been  his  warm  perefonal  friend — had  acted  for 
years  as  his  attorney,  and  had  always  been  true  to  him  in 
that  capacity;  and  being  very  adhesive  in  his  friendships, 
he  could  not  so  readily  condemn  what  he  had  just  heard 
as  if  it  had  come  from  some  other  source. 

After  all,  he  did  not  know  but  there  might  be  something 
in  Hardhead's  views;  he  (Clinton)  had  probably  not  inves- 
tigated all  the  circumstances  connected  with  the  rebellion 
as  closely  as  he  should.  Hardhead  certainly  was  a  man 
of  more  talent  and  information  than  himself;  and  as  he 
had  always  been  a  lover  of  free  speech,  his  regard  for 
Hardhead  was  by  no  means  lessened  by  the  coercive  de- 
monstrations of  the-  soldiers  toward  him.  Still  Clinton 
could  not  justify  Hardhead's  repudiation  of  the  platform 
on  which  he  had  run  for  Congress,  nor  the  assertion  that 
the  accession  of  a  constitutionally  elected  president  was, 
in  itself,  a  sufficient  cause  for  secession.  In  short.  Clinton 
was  completely  confused,  being  strongly  influenced  on  the 
one  hand  by  personal  friendship  and  past  political  attach- 
ment, and  on  the  other  by  that  love  of  country  which  had 
been  instilled  into  him  from  youth. 

In  this  vibrating  state  of  mind  he  sought  his  wife  and 
daughte-r,  who  had  improved,  or  rather  mis-improved  the 
lime  occupied  by  George  and  his  father  in  finding  the  re- 
cruiting office,  by  paying  a  passing  visit  to  the  family  of 


THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY.  15 

Mr.  Yenom,  a  very  popular  editor,  who  had  just  experi- 
enced the  terrors  of  ^^AhoUtion  ride^^^  by  being  forced  to 
display  the  American  flag  from  his  office  window,  and  take 
the  oath  of  allegiance.  During  this  visit,  the  following 
highly  entertaining  feminine  discussion  occurred  between 
Mrs,  Clinton  and  Mrs.  Venom: 

"Mrs.  Clinton,  do  I  understand  you  to  say  that  your 
handsome  son  George,  between  whom  and  my  daughtei 
Volatile,  there  has  always  existed  such  a  close  intimacy, 
has  gone  and  enlisted  in  the  Northern  army?" 

"Ye-es,  of  course.  Why  do  you  make  so  strange  of  it? 
Didn't  you  think  him  brave  enough  to  go  to  war?" 

"Oh!  my  dear  Mrs.  Clinton;  I  can  assure  you  that  I 
never  for  a  moment  doubted  George's  courage.  He  comes 
of  a  brave  stock.  But  I  must  say  I  am  surprised  that  the 
son  of  so  good  a  Democrat  as  Ingram  Clinton  should  take 
any  part  in  this  Black  Republican  war." 

"Well,  Mrs.  Venom,  I  dont  want  you  to  think  that 
I  had  art  nor  part  in  it.  It  was  all  fixed  up  atween 
Dora,  an  George,  an  father,  an  among  'em  afore  I 
knowed  anything  about  it.  An  then  George,  he  seemed  so 
bent  on  goin,  an  Father  was  so  anxious  to  have  him  go, 
that  I  thought  I  must  consent.  But,  law  me,"  and  here 
Mrs.  Clinton  drew  a  long  sigh;  "I  tell  you  it  didn't  please 
me  a  bit,  so  it  didn't." 

"If  it  had  a  been  a  war  with  some  furrin  nation,  I 
wouldn't  a  minded  it.  I'd  a  said,  go  George,  and  drive 
the  invaders  from  the  country  the  forefathers  fought,  bled, 
an  died  for.  But  it  always  seemed  to  me  this  war  with 
our  Southern  brothers  might  a  been  avoided." 

"And  so  it  might,  Mrs.  Clinton.  In  the  first  place  the 
Northern  people  need  not  have  elected  Lincoln.  The 
Southern  people  had  always  told  us  they  would  not  submit 


16  THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY. 

to  the  election  of  an  Abolitionist.  And  then  after  Lincoln 
was  elected,  we  might  have  preserved  peace  by  agreeing  to 
the  Crittenden  Compromise,  although  that  was  hardly  fair 
for  the  South,  and—" 

"Now,  Mrs.  Venom,  them's  jist  my  sentiments,  but  I 
hniut  got  the  edocation  to  express  'em." 

••But  that's  not  all,  31rs.  Clinton.  If  Lincoln  had  Jet 
the.  South  alone,  and  had  not  attempted  coercion,  the  Bor- 
der States  would  have  stayed  in  the  Union,  and  after  a 
v/hile  the  rebellous  States  would  have  come  back." 

'•That's  my  opinion,  too,  Mrs.  Venom." 

"Now,  the  truth  is,  Mrs.  Clinton,  the  Black  Republicans 
are  bent  on  the  freedom  of  the  negro,  and  they  have 
brought  on  this  war  to  subjugate  the  South  and  emanci- 
pate the  slaves.  But  the  South  never  can  be  whipped,  and 
this  country  never  can  have  peace  until  the  Democratic 
party  gets  into  the  power  again,  and  compromises  the  mat- 
ter by  giving  the  Southern  people  their  rights." 

"Now  your'e  talkin,  Mrs.  Venom.  The  Abolitioners 
loves  the  nigger  better  nor  they  do  the  country.  The 
South '11  never  submit,  an  the  Dimocrats'll  have  to  settle 
the  fuss  after  all.  But;"  and  here  Mrs.  Clinton  heaved 
another  deep  sigh;  "Greorge  has  gone  an  done  it,  I  reckon, 
by  this  time,  an  I  spose  there's  no  help  for  it.  He's  so 
hot-blooded,  an  Father,  he's  not  much  better;  an  the 
idee  o'  fightin  for  the  Government,  under  the  stares  an 
stripes,  has  sot  'em  both  crazy.  The  fact  is,  I'm  beginin 
to  git  uneasy  for  fear  the  ole  man '11  jine  the  company  too, 
if  he  can.     But  then  I  spose  he  can't,  can  he?" 

"0,  no,  Mrs.  Clinton;  no  one  over  forty-five  can  enter 
the  service." 

'•The  thing  goes  specially  hard  with  us  now,  Mrs. 
Venom,  because  the  most  o'  the  corn  crap's  to  be  put  in, 


THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY.  17 

an  there's  nobody  left  to  work  but  the  ole  man.  Hands  is 
powerful  scase,  you  know,  an  wages  high.  Dora,  she 
thinks  as  how  she  might  do  a  right  smart  chance  o'  work 
on  the  nwm;  but,  law,  she's  too  spindle'n  to  stand  any- 
thing. She'll  do  big  things,  won't  she?  Why,  she  haint 
Icon  woth  much  in  doin  the  work  about  the  house  sense 
she  went  to  boardin  school.  But  she's  all  full  o'  hifallutin 
notions  now — talks  about  revolutionary  mothers,  the  forti- 
tude o'  wimmen,  what  the  country  demands  of  our  sex  in 
this  tryin  period,  and  all  sich;  but  when  it  comes  to  the 
tryal,  I'm  a  thiukin  she  '11  wilt  like  a  mornin  glory  of  a 
hot  summer  day." 

"Yes,  I  should  think  Dora  too  delicate  to  do  much  out- 
door work." 

"Well,  I  was  just  a  thinkin,  Mrs.  Venom,  as  I  come  up, 
that  I'd  ax  you  somethin  about  a  thing  I  hearn  down 
town." 

"What  is  it?" 

'"Why,  some  feller  was  a  tellln  another  feller  jist  as  we 
stoped  afore  the  Odd  Feller's  Hall,  that  the  Union  men  had 
made  Mr.  Venom  hang  out  the  American  flag,  an  take  the 
oath  of  allegiance  to  the  United  States.  How  about 
that?" 

"Well,  that  is  about  true.  You  see  husband  is  pretty 
independent,  and  he  came  out  in  a  leader  the  other  morn- 
ing, reviewing  the  course  taken  by  the  Black  Bq^ublicans 
in  the  last  Congress,  and  showing  that  the  Abolitionists 
brought  on  the  war.  This  so  maddened  the  so-called 
UnioB  men,  and  the  soldiers  about  town,  that  thay  gath- 
ered around  the  office  and  threatened  to  tear  it  to  pieces  if 
husband  did  not  display  the  flag  and  take  the  oath.  Of 
course  he  was  vfilling  to  do  that;  but  if  anybody  thinks  he 
2 


18  THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY. 

has  clianged  one  whit  from  what  he  was,  they  are  badly 
mistaken.     lie  is  still  the  same  Iseariot  Venom." 

"Oh!  is  that  the  way  of  it?  Why,  I— but  the  door 
bell  rings." 

"Dick!     Dick!  3^011  lazy  black  rascal,  where  are  you?" 

"Ileah!  heah !   Missus  Venum,  at  your  scrviss." 

"Go  to  the  front  door  and  see  who  desires  admission. 
If  it  is  that  impudent  Mrs.  Loyal,  tell  her  I  am  not  at 
home.     Now  do  you  hear?" 

"  Yes,  missus;  I  heah." 

"I  expect  its  the  ole  man  after  me  an  Dora.  I  thought 
I  hearn  ole  Pats  nicker  jist  afore  the  bell.  Its  about  time 
he  should  be  here.  Yes,  it's  him;  I  hearn  him  ask  if  I 
was  here.  I've  got  a  good  one  laid  up  for  him  for  keepin 
me  here  so  long.  I  "11  lay  anything  he's  been  foolin  away 
his  time  talk'.ii  ^  olitics  with  Hardhead,  or  some  0'  them  fel- 
lers.    Yes,  it's  him;  here  he  is." 

"Good  evening,  Mrs.  Venom.'' 

"Good  evening,  3Ir.  Clinton.  Have  a  seat  on  the  sofa, 
and  rest  yourself;  you  must  be  tired." 

"Thank  you,  Mrs.  Venom,  but  I  have  no  time  to  stay; 
and  if  wife  and  Dora  are  ready,  we  will  be  off  home  imme- 
diately. Our  main  help  about  the  farm  has  gone  to  serve 
his  country,  and  the  old  man  will  have  to  stir  now,  or  the 
season's  work  will  f;ill  behind." 

^^So  Mrs.  Clinton  has  just  been  telling  me;  and  I  have 
been  wondering  how — but  here  come  Dora  and  Volatile, 
looking  unusually  serious  for  them.  Why,  Dora  has  been 
crying,  and  Volatile  is  pouting.  Girls,  is  anything  the 
matter?     Certainly,  there  is  nothing  wrong  between  ytu?" 

"I  don't  know  whetlier  3'ou  call  it  wrong  or  not,"  said 
Dora,   "but   whenever  anybody  speaks  derisively   of  the 


THE    TEST    OP    LOYALTY.  19 

American  Union,  and  shows  sympathy  with  rebels,  she,  or 
he,  can  no  longer  be  a  friend  of  mine.  Volatile  and  I 
have  been  out  to  Wallace  Barracks  in  company  with  my 
old  friend,  Ninnie  Hardhead,  and  on  our  return,  Ninnie 
jind  Volatile  did  nothing  but  slur  the  brave  boys  who  have 
so  cheerfully  stepped  forward  in  this  hour  of  their  coun- 
try's peril,  to  sustain  the  honor  of  the  flag;  and  they  shall 
know  from  this  time  forward,  that  a  gulf,  as  wide  as  the 
difference  between  treason  and  patriotism,  separates  them 
from  me." 

"Dear  me!  I  wonder!  Why,  you  must  have  been  ta- 
king lessons  of  Mrs.  Loyal,"  said  3Irs,  Venom. 

"Why,  daughter,  you  are  excited.  You  speak  too 
bluntly.  Remember  we  are  in  the  house  of  our  old 
friends,"  said  Mr.  Clinton. 

"Oh,  that's  jest  like  her,"  said  Mrs.  Clinton,  "more  of 
her  boardin  school  retric:  wants  to  to  let  folks  know  what 
she's  larnt.  I  tell  you,  ole  man,  that  garil  be  in  the  In- 
sane Hospistle  afore  a  year,  without  a  chance." 

"Been  taking  lessons  of  Mrs.  Loyal — in  the  house  of 
old  friends — will  bo  in  the  Insane  Hospital.  I  am  think- 
ing others  might  learn  valuable  lessons  of  Mrs.  Loyal. 
Father,  why  didn't  you  say  a  den  of  secession  vipers  in- 
stead of  a  house  of  friends;  and  as  to  the  Insane  Hospital, 
give  me  that  any  time  in  preference  to  the  doom  that  here- 
after awaits  traitors!  " 

"Wife!  wife!  let's  be  going.  Things  are  getting  pretty 
hot  here.  Dora  will  cool  dowR  when  she  gets  home.  I 
hope  you  will  take  no  offence,  Mrs.  Venom.  Dora  will 
apologize  when  she  is  at  herself" 

"Why,  Father,  what  do  you  mean?  I  am  at  myself. 
Loyalty  to  this  Government  is  always  sane.  Treason  is 
the  worst  form  of  madness;  and  there  are  some  here  who 


20  THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY. 

will  feel  it  before  many  years.  You  may  depend  upon  it, 
I  shall  never  apologize  to  traitors  while  life  remains,  nor 
cease  denouncing  those  \\'ho  would  insult  my  country's 
flafj,  until  I  am  cold  in  the  grave.  Father.  I  am  ready  to 
go  home,  and  will  be  glad  to  get  there,  but  must  seo 
George  first.     Where  is  he?" 

"I  left  him  at  the  recruiting  office.  lie  said  he  would 
meet  us  at  the  New  York  Store,  if  there  was  any  chance." 

"Ole  man,  I  am  ready  an  anxshus  to  git  home,  or  any 
where  else,  where  it  'ud  be  proper  for  me  take  that  gal 
down  a  notch  or  two.  I  '11  Inrn  her  how  to  take  advantage 
of  the  edccation  wev'e  sacrafiiced  so  much  to  give  her,  to 
insult  our  friends  and  disgrace  herself  I  '11  let  her  kiiovr 
her  mother  knows  somethin,  if  she  didn't  git  no  high 
boardin  school  larnin  when  she  was  a  gal.  I'd  like  to 
see  George  though,  too." 

Dora,  to  avoid  any  further  dispute  with  her  mother, 
remained  silent,  fully  determined,  however,  in  her  own 
mind  never  to  yield  a  single  inch  of  the  lofty,  patriotic 
ground  she  h:Kl  taken. 

All  things  being  in  readiness,  the  Aimily  proceeded  to 
tlieir  carriage  and  started  home.  Pa.^sing  down  jMain 
street,  they  came  to  the  locality  where  George  had 
promised  to  see  them,  and  found  him  in  waiting.  He 
told  them  he  had  enli.sted  in  the  company  of  his  choice, 
but  would  not  be  mustered  into  the  service  for  a  day  or 
two,  and  he  would  spend  that  time  at  home.  All  were 
rejoiced  to  hear  this  news.  i>lrs.  Clinton  seemed  particu- 
larly pleased;  and  the  significant  twinklings  of  her  little 
grey  eyes  indicated  that  she  had  a  special  object  in  having 
her  son  at  home  a  little  while  before  he  was  sworn  in. 

George  took  his  seat  in  the  carriage,  and  all  proceeded 
on  their  wav  home. 


THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY.  21 

Wonderful  to  say,  Mrs.  Clinton  had  not  a  word  of  re- 
proof for  Dora,  even  when  the  best  opportunities  were 
offered.  The  truth  is,  she  knew  her  daughter,  and  that 
while  she  was  the  most  obedient  of  daughters  in  all  mat- 
ters coming  within  the  sphere  of  a  mother's  juri;.dictioa, 
she  was  not  the  girl  to  compromise  any  right  principle. 
Mrs.  Clinton  desired  to  leave  as  favorable  an  impression 
upon  the  mind  of  her  friend^  Mrs.  Yenom,  as  possible. 
Hence  she  attempted  to  show  her  disapproval  of  Dora's 
Union  sentiments,  and  particularly  her  hostilit}'  to  tho 
bold  manner  in  which  they  were  expressed,  by  making 
threats  of  reprimands  and  punishments  at  the  proper  time 
and  place.  But  further  than  this  mere  display,  she  in- 
tended nothing,  and  during  the  route  from  the  city  home, 
no  mention  was  made  of  what  had  passed  at  the  house  of 
Mr.  Venom. 

And,  as  we  have  hitherto  omitted  it,  let  us  here  attempt 
a  description  of  Dora. 

She  is  a  genuine  Hoosier  girl,  of  medium  height  and  full 
form.  Her  features  are  strong  but  not  coarse.  Her  com- 
plexion is  rather  dark, — hair  very  dark,  and  worn  plainly; 
eyes  hazel,  large,  round,  electric  in  expression — the  true 
index,  at  all  times,  of  her  feelings,  whether  sad,  pathetic, 
or  revengeful.  Her  head  is  large,  high,  and  narrow  in 
front,  but  full  in  the  combative  region.  The  painter  would 
hardly  select  her  as  a  model  of  femine  beauty,  and  yet  she 
is  by  no  means  homely.  She  is  possessed  of  rare  percep- 
tives,  memory  and  language,  and  the  ability  to  apply  what- 
ever she  learns.  Her  education  is  the  very  best  that  the 
Hoosier  capital  will  afford.  She  is  an  inveterate  reader  of 
history  and  politics;  believes  that  a  woman  has  a  right  to 
know  anything  she  can  learn,  and  express  an  opinion  when 
Bhe  has   one.     She  is  frank,   bold,   honest,  energetic,  and 


22  THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY. 

always  ready  to  defend  the  right.  A  dandy,  whose  highest 
conception  of  a  lady  is  that  of  a  semi-sentimental,  smirk- 
ing, French-chattering,  piano  puppet,  will  hardly  bo 
tempted  to  fall  in  love  with  her,  but  a  iiuin  who  wants 
a  icomtoi,  will  make  her  his  wife  if  he  can  get  her.  She 
is  not  rude,  but  earnest,  ardent,  and  always  rcad-y  to 
attack  wrong  wherever  she  may  find  it;  always  desires  to 
be  obedient  and  respectful  to  her  parents,  but  not  negative 
and  subservient. 

On  the  way  home,  Mrs.  Clinton  was  occupied  in  asking 
George  questions  with  reference  to  his  enlistment,  his  corn- 
pan}',  officers,  etc,  etc.  She  seemed  particularly  anx- 
ious to  know  all  about  the  nature  of  a  volunteer  en- 
listment,— how  far  the  recruit  was  bound  before  he  was 
sworn  in,  etc. 

George  knew  his  mother's  susceptibility,  and  could 
plainly  see  that  some  one  had  been  poisoning  her  since  he 
had  parted  from  her  in  the  morning.  He  was,  therefore, 
extremely  careful  to  say  nothing  indicating  a  desire  to 
retrace  the  step  he  had  taken.  But  the  significant  queries 
of  his  mother  did  not  trouble  George  half  so  badly  as  the 
ominous  silence  and  vexed  countenance  of  his  -father. 
There  was  a  gruif.  disappointed  expression  in  tlie  latter's 
features,  which  could  not  easily  be  fathomed,  and  which 
set  George  on  nettle  of  uneasiness.  Dora,  also,  observed 
this,  and  determined,  if  possible,  to  know  the  cause  of  it. 

Arrived  at  home.  George  housed  the  carriage  and  put 
away  the  horse,  while  the  other  members  of  the  family 
proceed  to  the  house.  Dora  immediately  sough',  an  inter- 
Tiew  with  her  father,  when  the  following  pastel  between 
them: 

"Father,  what  causes  you  to  be  so  gloomy  and  abstracted 
this  afternoon? — so  rufiled  and  unapproachable.      Quite  dif- 


THE    TEST    OF    LOYxiLTY,  23 

ferent,  you  seem  now  to  what  you  did  tbis  morning.  Then 
you  was  sad,  now  you  are  morose." 

"  Daughter,  it  would  be  difficult  for  mc  to  tell  you  all  I 
feel  just  now;  and  if  I  were  to  do  it,  it  would,  perhaps, 
only  perplex  you,  while  it  wouldn't  relieve  me." 

''  Father,  unless  it  is  something  not  proper  for  me  to  hear, 
I  insist  that  you  disclose  to  me  the  whole  cause  of  your 
trouble.  You  know  how  much  I  love  you,  and  how  miser- 
able I  am,  when  anything  goes  wrong  with  you  which  I 
may  not  know." 

''Well,  for  your  satisftiction,  I'll  tell  all.  To  begin  with, 
I've  been  surprised  to-day  to  find  that  some  of  my  old 
Democratic  friends  don't  support  the  Government.  I  have 
been  particularly  troubled  at  Hardhead's  notions  of  the 
war.  I  fully  expected  to  find  every  Douglas  man  a  warm 
supporter  of  the  Government;  but  he  not  only  speaks  dis- 
couragingly  of  the  war,  but  favorably  of  the  secessionists  — 
the  murderers  of  Douglas.  The  rebellion  has  made  a  new 
man  of  him.  He  now  sees  light  where  he  used  to  see  dark- 
ness. He  now  defends  the  Lecompton  doctrine  and  the 
Breckenridge  platform  with  as  much  zeal  as  he  used  to  op- 
pose them;  giving  as  a  reason  for  his  past  support  of  the 
Anti-Lecompton  ticket  that  it  was  the  only  one  which 
could  possibly  defeat  the  Republicans.  He  seems  to  think 
that  the  Southern  people  are  fighting  for  their  rights,  and 
that  the  abolitionists  have  brought  on  the  war.  Now  you 
know  Hardhead  has  always  been  a  good  friend  of  miiic. 
He  certainly  knows  more  than  I  do  about  politics.  Ivj 
always  looked  up  to  him  as  a  political,  as  well  as  a  Ic.;,^:! 
advisor;  and  the  stand  he  now  takes,  and  the  boldness  he 
defends  it  with,  shakes  my  confidence  a  little  in  the  views 
I  took  this  morning,  and  leads  me  to  ask  whether  or  not 
I  have  done  right  in  giving  up  George." 


24  THE    TEST    OF    LOYALIT. 

'*  Father,  I  can  hardly  believe  that  it  is  you  who  talks  thus. 
I  am  filled  with  inexpressible  anguish  to  hear  you  even  in- 
timate th;it  your  faith  in  the  cause  of  the  Union  is  shaken. 
As  to  Hardhead,  I  could  have  told  you  long  ago  that  he  is 
an  unprincipled  politician  ;  a  man  ready  to  do  anything 
for  money  or  for  position — a  traitor  both  to  his  party  and 
to  his  country.  His  friendship  to  you  is  based  upon, the 
profit  he  has  derived  from  your  patronage,  and  that  he  yet 
hopes  to  derive  in  the  future.  Take  away  the  money  prop 
and  his  high  estimation  of  you  will  tumble  into  the  un- 
fathomable depths  of  oblivion.  And  can  it  be  possible  that 
my  father  acknowledges  dependence  upon  a  corrupt,  worn 
out  political  hack,  as  it  regards  the  formation  of  his  opin- 
ions and  the  conception  of  his  duties  in  a  great  crisis,  such 
as  the  present?  Is  it  possible,  that  my  father,  when  the 
flag  of  his  country  has  been  basely  insulted,  will  confer 
with  one  who  would  sell  soul  and  body  for  office,  to  know 
what  he  should  do? 

"  The  assertion  that  this  war  is  brought  about  by  the  abo- 
litionists is  a  lie,  and  Hardhead  knew  it  when  he  uttered 
it.  The  great  national  calamity  wbich  now  overhangs  us 
is  just  what  the  enemies  of  Douglas  have  been  working 
for  a  number  years.  The  election  of  Lincoln — the  pretext 
for  the  war  was  made  certain  by  the  division  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party  at  Charleston.  The  same  fire-eaters  who  de- 
feated the  efforts  of  the  conservatives  of  the  Xorth-west  are 
working  to  destroy  American  liberty ;  and  the  man  who, 
having  fought  under  the  standard  of  the  Little  Giant, 
would  turn,  immediately  after  his  defeat,  a<nd  lick  the  dust 
from  the  feet  of  his  enemies,  is  unworthy  a  position  among 
respectable  apes. 

"  The  issue  of  the  present  is  not  ahoUtion,  but  the  salva- 
tion of  America.     It  is  not  whether  the  negro  shall  be  freed, 


THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY.  25 

but  -whether  the  freedom  of  the  white  men  shall  be  pre- 
served; not  whether  the  present  administration  is  right, 
but  whether  the  great  Temple  of  Liberty,  reared  by  the 
heroes  of  Seventy-six,  shall  stand;  not  whether  a  local  in- 
stitution of  the  Souvth  shall  be  extended,  but  whether  the 
Union,  more  prescious  to  the  true  American  than  life,  shall 
be  perpetuated." 

"Daughter,  tlie  heat  of  your  feelings  carries  you  to  ex- 
tremes, llemember  you're  young  and  have  not  seen  as 
much  of  the  political  workings  of  this  Government  as 
others  have.  I  know  you're  well  versed  in  history  for  one 
of  your  age,  and  that  you  take  an  unusual  interest  in  the 
welfare  of  your  country,  but  the  w^armth  of  your  young 
blood  won't  allow  that  cool  exercise  of  judgment  that  older 
ones  are  capable  of;  I  admire  your  patriotism,  but  don't 
like  your  uncompromising  disposition.  It  docs  rot  become 
one  of  your  age  and  sex  to  speak  so  harshly  of  everybody 
who  opposes  your  views.  Hardhead  may  be  all  that  you 
say  he  is,  but  it. doesn't  look  well  in  you  to  use  quite  such 
hard  words  about  him  as  you  do.  You  ihould  be  more 
moderate." 

'•  The.^e  are  not  moderate  times,  father.  The  life  of 
America  is  at  stake;  and  whoever,  either  directly  or  indi- 
rectly, shows  sympathy  with  its  enemies  not  only  deserves 
the  uncompromising  hatred  of  every  friend  of  freedom,  but 
the  ignoble  death  of  a  traitor,  be  he  old  or  young.  Trea- 
son is  inexcusable  enough  in  youth;  but  when  dignified  by 
age  and  advocated  against  the  light  of  experience,  it  be- 
comes detestable  beyond  the  power  of  human  description. 
No,  Father,  sny  not  that  my  words  have  been  too  sharp 
against  a  man,  who,  as  the  insideous  serpent  insinuated 
himself  into  the  good  graces  of  our  Mother  Eve,  that 
through  her,  he  might  taint  the  air,  curse  the  earth,  and 


26  THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY. 

blielit  the  souls  of  million:i,  v/ould  stcalthfully  creep  into 
the  hearts  of  Columbia's  loyal  sons,  infuse  into  their  souls 
the  fatal  poison  of  disunion,  and  thus  destroy  a  nation's 
freedom.  Words  are  but  feeble  agencies  to  portray  the 
dark,  the.  damning  crime  of  conspiracy  against  liberty ; 
and  the  condemnation  of  traitors  is  so  deep  that  the  eye  of 
the  human  imagination  could  not  penetrate  it,  in  an  age. 
But,  Oh!  Father,  how  do  you  think  poor  George  will  feel 
when  he  hears  of  the  change  that  seems  likely  to  come 
over  you?  How  will  his  soul  bear  up  under  the  knowledge 
that  your  heart  is  not  fully  enlisted  in  the  great  cause  for 
which  he  goes  to  fight?     And  —  " 

There,  daughter,  stop !  The  old  man  can  endure  no  more. 
You  have  touched  the  tender  spot.  You  know  how  I  love 
George;  you  know  how  I  love  my  country.  But,  my  head 
is  addled,  I  am  in  a  vexed,  uncertain  state  of  mind ;  don't 
know  what  to  make  of  Hardhead,  and — " 

"Why.  father,  I  can  tell  you  what  to  make  of  him,"  said 
George,  surprising  both  his  father  and  Dora  by  his  sudden 
appearance.  "He  is  simply  a  sympathizer  with  the  South; 
an  enemy  to  the  Government.  Everybody  knows  that. 
Col.  Vaughn  told  me  to-day  that  Hardhead  was  at  heart  a 
rebel,  and  a  more  dangerous  foe  to  the  Union  than  any  man 
in  the  Southern  army." 

"Col.  Vaughn!" 

''Yes,  Col.  Vaughn." 

"Well,  if  lie  says  it,  I  reckon  there  is  something  in  it. 
But  George,  did  you  hear  what  passed  between  me  and 
your  sister?" 

"Only  a  part  of  it.  father — the  latter  part." 

"Well,  son,  you  mustn't  think  that  your  father  would 
have  you  undo  anything  you  have  done  to-day.  I  have 
merely  allowed  myself  to   get  a  little  worked  up  by  some 


THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY.  27 

talk  I  had  with  Hardhead  this  forenoon;  and.  as  Dora  has 
hinted,  I  reckon  it  is  weakness  in  me  to  allow  him  to  do  my 
thinking.  Go  on  my  boy,  you  have  honored  yourself  and 
your  fiither  in  offering  yourself  to  your  country.  May 
God  bless  you." 

The  incisive  arguments  of  Dora,  although  not  new  to  Mr. 
Clinton,  owing  to  the  unselfishness  and  earnestness  of  the 
manner  in  which  they  were  presented,  tended  greatly  to  re- 
store his  mental  equalibrium,  and  to  remove  those  Demo- 
cratic jealousies  aroused  by  his  couYcrsation  with  Hard- 
head in  the  city.  But  his  sympathy  for  his  son  and 
the  opinion  of  Col.  Yaughn — a  life-long  Democrat — caused 
him  to  feel  ashamed  of  having  allowed  himself  to  entertain 
any  doubts  of  the  righteousness  of  his  country's  cause  ; 
and  to  fall  back  rapidly  to  his  former  position — that  what- 
ever might  have  been  the  causes  of  the  war,  it  is  the  duty 
of  all  citizens  of  all  parties  to  sustain  the  Government. 

He  was  naturally  a  firm,  resolute  man;  but  was  becoming 
enfeebled  both  in  mind  and  body  by  age,  and  was  by  no 
means  well  prepared  for  the  new  issues  and  soul-trying  exi- 
gencies which  the  year  >861  brought  with  it.  His  party 
prejudices  were  exceedingly  strong.  He  had  always  be- 
lieved that  the  history  of  his  party  was  the  history  of  the 
Government;  that  the  Democratic  policy  was  the  only  one 
upon  which  the  Republic  could  be  securely  based;  and, 
hence,  although  he  felt,  as  Dora  had  said,  that  the  same 
men  who  had  divided  the  Democracy  and  thus  ensured  the 
election  of  Lincoln,  were  foremost  in  the  rebellion,  jet  he 
had  no  love  for  the  Republicans,  and  by  no  means  liked 
the  idea  of  humbling  his  Democratic  pride. 

It  was  under  the  influence  of  these  peculiar  feelings  and 
prejudices  that  he  was  induced  to  take  into  consideration 
the  views  of  Hardhead.     But  the  counter-views  of  another 


28  TIIK    TEST    OF    LOYALTY. 

Democrat,  more  talented  and  influential,  tended  to  restore 
bim  to  his  former  patriotic  stand,  and  to  arouse  in  him  a 
strong  suspicion  of  Hardhead's  loyalty. 

In  this  state  of  mind,  he  called  for  his  pipe,  lighted  it 
and  sat  down  to  soothe  his  excited  nerves  and  indulge  in 
hopeful  reveries.  In  the  mean  time  Dora  went  to  the  kit- 
chen to  assist  her  mother  about  the  supper. 

While  supper  was  in  preparation,  Mr.  Clinton  took  occa- 
sion to  ask  George  a  great  many  questions  about  Colonel 
Vaughn  and  other  Democrats,  and  their  opinion  of  the  war, 
etc  ,  etc..  which  George  cheerfully  answered  as  well  as  he 
could.  It  was  a  great  solace  to  him  to  know  that  his  first 
views  of  the  war  and  the  duties  of  the  people  were  fully 
supported  by  the  most  distinguished  Democrats  of  the  coun- 
try. And  he  finally  requested  George  to  procure  for  him 
a  paper  containing  the  noble  speech  made  by  Senator 
Douglas  in  Indianapolis,  on  his  return  from  Washington, 
immediately  after  the  breaking  out  of  the  rebellion. 

Supper  being  ready,  it  was  quietly  despatched;  all  ap- 
pearing to  have  said  about  all  they  had  to  say  respecting 
the  exciting  scenes  •  of  the  day.  Mrs.  Clinton  was  un- 
usually quiet;  but  exceedingly  vigilent  in  watching  all 
George's  motions  and  expressions  of  countenance. 

After  supper  the  family  proceeded  to  the  sitting  room, 
and  after  a  few  minutes'  conversation,  during  which  time 
Mr.  Clinton  again  indulged  in  the  use  of  the  pipe,  prepara- 
tions were  made  for  r<3tiring  to  rest.  The  venerable  head 
of  the  family  selected  and  read  from  the  '-Old  fashioned 
Bible,"'  an  appropriate  chapter,  and  then  poured  out  his 
soul  in  earnest  prayer  to  the  Great  Disposer  of  all  human 
events,  in  behalf  of  his  distracted  country,  and  the  brave 
soidiers  who  had  gone  to  fight  the  battles  of  freedom.  He 
closed  his  appeal  bj' invoking  the  blessings  of  heaven  upon 


THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY.  29 

his  only  son,  w     •  now  about   to  leave  liis  father's  roof 

to  meet  the  enemies  of  his  Goveriniicnt  in  deadly  combat. 
During  this  prayer  the  feelings  of  all  were  touched. 
George  and  Dora  felt  whnt  they  had  never  felt  before.  The 
insecurity  of  human  institutions,  and  the  uncertainty  of 
life  were  brought  before  their  minds  in  the  most  vivid  man- 
ner, and  they  felt  they  were  to  suffer  afflictions  of  the  soul 
to  which  they  had  previously  been  strangers.  The  eccen- 
tric mother  was  moved  to  intense  grief,  and  experienced  a 
degree  of  humility  which  even  such  eratic  minds  as  her's 
rarely  know.  All  arose  from  the  merc'e>'  seat,  melted  intc 
contriticn,  and  sympathetically  harmonious  with  each  other, 
to  retire  to  rest  imbued  with  thoughts  and  desires  as  new 
as  they  were  soul-thrilling. 


CHAPTER    II 


LOYALTY  S    TE>T. 

We  near  the  large  plantation  residence  of  a  wealthy 
Tennesscean,  near  Knoxville.  The  man  who  resides  there 
formerly  lived  in  the  vicinity  of  Nashville,  but  moved  to 
his  present  place  of  abode  about  the  time  that  Sumter 
'was  reduced,  in  order  to  escape  the  persecutions  which  t\\d 
secessionists  were  visiting  upon  the  Union  men  of  that 
region.  His  name  is  Trucman.  He  is  an  uncompromising 
friend  of  the  Union.  He  is  a  brother  of  Mrs.  Clinton; 
has  an  intelligent  and  interesting  family;  is  brave,  noble, 
and  generous.  We  shall  soon  form  a  mure  intimate 
acquaintance  with  h':^!  but  for  the  present  we  will  approach 
the  door  of  his  house  and  busy  ourselves  in  listening  to  a 
conversation  between  his  two  daughters. 

"Louie,  did  you  tell  me  you  had  received  a  letter  from 
our  Hoosier  cousin,  Dora  Clinton?" 

"Yes.     Would  you  like  to  read  it?" 

"No;  I  would  rather  have  you  read  it.  You  read  so 
much  better  than  I  do." 

"Anything  to  please  you,  Jennie,"  said  Louie,  as  she 
opened  the  letter  and  r^ad  as  follows: 

"Dear  Lotie  :  I  have  so  many  things  to  write  about 
that  I  scarcely  knew  where  to  begin.  You  are,  of  course, 
as  well  apprised -of  the  great  misfortune  which  has  befallen 
our  country,  as  I   am.     You   may   not  know,  however,  the 

30 


TIIK    Trlr^T    OF    LOYAJ/iY.  31 

feelings  of  our  peo|lj  toward  you  as  well  as  one  who  has 
always  lived  here. 

'The  people  of  the  North  have  not  engaged  in  a  war 
for  the  freedom  of  the  negro,  but  for  the  preservation  of 
t I'.c  Union.  Thousands  of  men  who  voted  against  Lincoln 
hive  tiken  up  arms,  not  against  slavery,  but  against  trai- 
tors. The  Administration  declares  it  as  the  policy  of  the 
Government  to  interfere  with  the  domestic  interests  of  no 
State,  and  to  protect  the  lives  and  property  of  citizens 
everywhere.  If  the  Southern  people  would  lay  down  their 
arms  to-day,  the  Government  would  receive  them  again  into 
the  Union  without  infringing  a  single  one  of  their  rights. 
But  while  the  seceders  continue  to  strike  at  the  Govern- 
ment, the  great  loj^al  masses  of  the  Xorth  will  fight  while 
a  man  is  left. 

"The  secessionists  need  not  deceive  themselves  with  the 
hope  that  the  conservative  Democracy  of  the  North-west 
will  assist  them  in  their  silly,  insane  efforts  to  establish  a 
Southern  Confederacy.  We  know  too  well  the  value  of 
our  Government  to  encourage  its  destruction.  There  may 
be  a  very  few  among  us  who  sympathize  with  the  traitors, 
but  they  are  too  idiotic  and  cowardly  to  be  worth  anything 
to  anybody. 

'•You  know  not,  my  dear  Louie,  how  much  uneasiness 
your  kin  here,  suffer  on  your  account.  Knowing  that  your 
father  is  an  uncompromising  Union  man,  we  fear  that 
unless  aid  is  soon  sent  you,  he  will  f\ill  a  victim  to  those 
ruthless  savages,  who  obey  the  mandates  of  Jeff.  Davis. 
May  the  Father  of  mercies  protect  you,  is  our  constant 
prayer. 

"Should  you  be  closely  pressed,  fly  to  us  if  you  can. 
We  will  receive  you  with  open  arms. 

"The  health  of  the  entire  family  is  good. 


32  THE    TEST    OF    L<,  V-.\  J-.TV . 

''George  has  volunteered  in  his  country ''s  service. 
"Ever  your  faithful  cousin, 

"Dora. 
"P.  S. — Ftemember  me  to  your  pi   and   ma,  and  Albert, 
and  kiss  Jennie  for  me.  "  D." 

"How  much  that  sounds  like  cousin  Dora,"  exclaimed 
Jennie.  "Her  independence,  patriotism,  and  sympathy 
are  all  visible  in  that  letter." 

"Yes,  and  her  sound  common  sense,  too,"  Louie  said,  as 
she  folded  the  letter  and  placed  it  in  her  portfolio. 

"How  good  it  is  in  her  to  sympatize  with  us,  when  she 
herself  is,  no  doubt,  enough  grieved  that  her  only  brother, 
■who  has^always  been  by  her  side,  must  be  made  a  mark  for 
rebel  bullets." 

"Yes,  Jenni^,  it  is,  indeed,  good,  but  not  remarkable; 
because  our  own  misfortunes,  so  far  from  monopolizing  our 
souls,  really  render  them  the  more  capacious  for  the  recep- 
tion of  the  sorrows  of  other?." 

"0!  Louie!  when  I  think  of  the  beautiful  home  we 
have  exchanged  for  this  place,  and  the  many  good  friends 
this  war  has  alienated  from  me,  it  nearly  breaks  my  heart. 
But  then,  if  it  only  pi  ces  father  out  of  danger,  and  saves 
Albert  from  being  pressed  into  the  rebel  army,  I  am  sat- 
isfied." 

"Yes,  and  v»'ell  you  may  be;  for  there  is  no  telling  what 
evils  we  may  yet  have  to  encounter.  Lincoln  seems  to  be 
very  slow  in  sending  arras  or  aid  to  Hast  Tennessee,  and  if 
we  should  be  neglected'  until  the  secessionists  have  made 
sufficient,  headway  to  put  us  under  martial  law,  and  cut  off 
all  sources  of  assistance  to  us,  we  shall  experience  trials 
of  another  sort  to  any  we  have  heretofore  known.  Our 
noble  Senator,  Andy  Johnson,  has  spared  no  efforts  to  in- 


THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY.  33 

duce  the  Government  to  supply  us  with  the  means  of  de- 
fense, but  as  yet  we  have  nothing  but  promises.  The 
Administration  does  not  seem  to  appreciate  the  devoted 
loyalty  of  the  Tennessee  mountaineers.  The  fearless 
spirit  and  self-sacraficing  Unionism  of  Brownlow  and  his 
brother  patriots,  seems  thus  far  to  have  excited  little  more 
than  admiration  among  the  powers  at  Washington.  It 
may  be,  however,  that  preparations  are  being  made  to 
assist  us  as  rapidly  as  possible." 

'•Oh!  Louie!  don't  talk  so  gloomily  of  our  prospects. 
[t  makes  the  cold  chills  run  all  over  me.  Only  think  of 
Father's  being  treated  as  some  of  the  Union  men  about 
Nashville  have  been;  and  then  the  idea  of  Albert  being 
made  to  enter  the  army  of  Jeff.  Davis,  to  make  war  upon 
the  Government  to  which  he  has  always  been  so  devotedly 
attached — to  trample  under  foot  the  flag  he  holds  more 
sacred  than  life.  Surely!  surely!  sister,  such  terrible 
calamities  as  these  are  not  in  reserve  for  us."' 

"Earnestly,  I  pray  not,  Jennie;  but  while  we  should  not 
anticipate  the  worst,  yet  we  should  always  be  prepared  for 
it.  I  would  not  have  you  suffer  the  afflictions  you  have 
-portrayed  in  advance;  I  would  only  have  you  be  satisfied 
that  our  condition  is  no  worse  than  it  is.  If  we  had  en- 
tirely lost  our  home,  it  would  be  nothing  to  the  sacrifice 
we  may  yet  have  to  lay  upon  the  altar  of  our  country." 

"Oh!  how  I  wish  we  were  rid  of  our  negroes,  and  could 
go  North,"  Jennie  exclaimed  in  her  most  fidgety  style. 
"Then  Albert  could  join  the  Union  army,  and  share  the 
honors  of  loyal  warfare  with  his  cousin  George.  But 
then,  he  could  not  be  persuaded  to  go  and  leave  us  here, 
exposed  as  we  are," 

"Girls!  girls!  have  you  heard  the  news?"  cried  Albert 
8" 


34  THE    TEST    OP    LOYALTY. 

Trueman,  rushing  unexpectedly  into  the  room,  -while  a 
mingled  expression  of  uneasiness  and  vengeance  flashed 
from  his  keen  gray  eye." 

""What  news?"  eagerly  inquired  the  sisters,  both  in  the 
same  breath. 

"Why,  a  force  of  two  thousand  secessionists  is  within 
one  day's  march  of  Knoxville,  and — " 

'Why.  Albert!  that  must  be  a  mere  rumor,"  said  Louie, 
trying  to  suppress  her  agitation. 

"All  but  a  mere  rumor — I  only  wish  it  were.  I  have 
just  this  moment  heard  it  from  a  very  reliable  Union  man 
who  came  immediately  from  the  neighborhood  where  the 
scoundrels  encamped  last  night." 

"Is  that  so?" 

"Yes,  it  is  so;  and  he  says  the  cowardly  dogs  are  de- 
stroying property,  and  shooting  down  unarmed  Union  men 
wherever  they  go." 

"Oh!  that  we  had  arms!  Why  don't  the  Government 
send  us  arms?  We  ask  no  more,"  ejaculated  Albert  in  the 
most  supplicating  tones. 

"Albert !  my  son!  this  is  no  time  to  be  vainly  lamenting 
our  condition — no  time  to  stand  here  idly  wishing  for  what 
we  can  not  obtain!"  cried  Mr.  Trueman,  at  the  top  of  his 
voice,  as  he  entered  the  presence  of  his  children,  his  whole 
countenance  burning  with  fiery  indignation.  "The  de- 
vouring wolves  of  Jeff.  Davis  are  in  our  midst,  committing 
the  most  savage  outrages  upon  our  people,  to  make  them 
bow  at  the  feet  of  the  rattlesnake  king,  and  no  time  is  to 
be  lost,  or  we  shall  be  reduced  to  a  submission  more  hu- 
miliating than  that  of  the  meanest  slave. 

"Come,  my  boy,  don't  stand  here  waiting  and  praying 
for  Government  arms;  but  with  your  revolver  and  fowling 
piece   mount  your  Selim,  and   off  with   me   to   Knoxville. 


TOE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY.  35 

Brownlow  and  other  lion-liearted  patriots,  are  in  waiting 
for  us." 

"AYell;  but  Father  what  will  become  of  us?"  asked 
Jennie,  while  her  pallid  countenance  and  trembling  frame 
showed  the  intensity  of  the  fear  to  which  she  had  been 
wrought  up, 

"What  will  become  of  us,  indeed !"  said  Louie,  in  tones 
of  sarcastic  bitterness.  "  Better  ask  what  will  become  of 
Father  and  Brother,  and  the  brave  little  band  of  patriots 
who  are  going  to  defend  us  against  those  heartless 
wretches. 

.  "Surely,  we  can  take  care  of  our  persons  while  our 
friends  go  to  meet  the  hosts  of  Confederate  brutes  who 
threaten  the  destruction  of  the  whole  country." 

"Heroic  daughter!  Worthy  descendant  of  the  revolu- 
tionary mothers;  may  Heaven  enable  you  to  inspire  your 
sister  with  the  same  dauntless  courage  and  unyielding  for- 
titude  which  I  know  will  keep  your  head  above  the  fiery 
waves  that  are  now  sweeping  over  the  land.  I  have  no 
fears  of  your  mother.  Her  spirit  is  fully  equal  to  the 
trials  it  will  be  required  to  endure.     But  we  must  be  off," 

"Ned!  Ned!" 

"What,  massa?"  said  a  suple  son  of  Africa  who  an- 
swered to  that  name,  as  he  sprung  into  the  room,  and 
hat  in  hand,  made  his  lowest  bow  to  his  master. 

"Go  immediately  to  the  stable  and  saddle  Charley  and 
Selim,  and  bring  them  out  in  the  greatest  possible  haste. 
Come,  off  with  you!" 

"Yes,  massa;  I  bring  de  bosses  in  de  twinklin  ob  a 
sheep's  tail,"  said  Ned,  bounding  away  to  the  stable,  re- 
volving over  and  over  in  his  kinky  pate  what  the  emer- 
gency could    be    that   required   such   unusual  haste,  and 


36  THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY. 

wliicli  causpd  the  whole  fiimily  to  nppear  so  deeply  agi- 
tated. 

"Louie,  call  your  mother.  I  must  see  her  before  I  go, 
and  let  her  know  what  it  is  that  takes  me  so  unceremo- 
neously  from  home." 

**I  guess  she  is  in  the  garden,  Father,"  replied  Louie,  as 
she  glided  out  of  the  parlor  in'  search  of  her  mother. 

She  had  been  absent  but  a  few  minutes  when  she  re- 
turned, bringing  Mrs.  Trueraan,  who,  as  she  presented  her 
husband  with  a  beautiful  boquet,  remarked  tenderly : 

"Here  I  am,  dear;  what  will  you  have  with  me?" 

"Were  it  any  other  woman  than  you,  I  should  be  afraid 
to  tell  you,"  answered  Trueman,  looking  confidingly  at  his 
wife.  "But  knowing  your  courage  and  power  of  endu- 
rance, I  do  not  hesitate  to  tell  you  why  I  requested  your 
presence." 

"Ah!  I  see  it  is  someii.ing  serious." 

'^Serious,  indeed,  my  dear — more  so,  doubtless,  than 
anything  which  has  ever  yet  tested  your  fortitude.  The 
fiendish  followers  of  Jeff.  Davis  are  within  a  d:iy's  march 
of  Knnxville,  burning  houses,  murdering  the  people,  steal- 
ing property,  and  doing  whatever  else  their  hellish  in- 
stincts prompt  thera  to  do,  in  order  to  make  the  Unionists 
submit  to  the  rule  of  their  Confederate  master." 

"Is  it  possible!  So  it  seems  that  our  removal  to  East 
Tennessee  has  not  secured  us  from  the  persecutions  of  the 
usurper.  "Where  is  the  aid  promised  us  by  the  Govern- 
ment?" 

"It  is  too  late,  my  dear,  to  lament  the  failure  of  the 
Government  to  supply  us  with  the  means  of  defense. 
"Whether  there  is  any  just  cause  for  the  slow  movements 
of  the  Federal  authorities,  we  know  not.  Nor  have  we 
time  to  stop  and  inquire.     We  only  know  that  we  are  pre- 


THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY.  37 

sented  Avitli  the  alternatives  of  \Yar  or  abject  slavery;  and 
that  we  must,  with  what  means  we  have,  resist,  to  the 
death,  those  who  seek  to  coerce  us  into  disunion,  or  sacri- 
fice that  which  is  dearer  to  us  than  life — our  honor. 

"Albert  and  I  are  going,  with  our  revolvers  and  shot- 
guns, to  Knoxville,  to  unite  our  eftorts  with  the  few 
remaining  freemen  of  the  once  proud  State  of  Tennessee, 
to  resist  the  encroachments  of  the  oppresssr.  We  are  few 
in  numbers,  but  strong  in  the  love  of  liberty.  Our  de- 
pendence is  not  on  superior  equipments  and  military  disci- 
pline, but  upon  the  righteousness  of  our  cause  and  tho 
God  of  truth.  We  may  all  fall,  but  we  prefer  honorable 
death  to  that  mean  servility  which  reduces  a  man  to  tliG 
condition  of  the  brute.*' 

"Husband,  I  have  never  had  any  desire  to  survive  your 
death,  but  I  have  as  little  that  you  should  outlive  your 
honor.  Go  and  meet  the  ruthless  despoiler  who  seeks  to 
strip  your  country's  flag  of  its  pristine  glory,  and  trans- 
form its  noble  defenders  into  obseciuious  menials;  and 
while  the  consciousness  of  your  soul-inspiring  motives 
emboldens  your  heart  and  nerves  your  arm  to  the  unequal 
conflict,  remember  that  she  who  loves  you  better  than  life, 
is  ever  invoking  the  God  of  justice  to  shield  you  from 
danger." 

"And  if  I  fall?" 

"  I  will  rear  a  monument  to  your  fame,  and  inscribe  on 
it:  John  Trueman,  one  op  the  illustrious  Tennessee 
martyrs  who  fell  while  bravely  defending  the 
American  Union  against  the  myrmidons  of  the  trai- 
tor, Jeff.  Davis." 

"Then,  wife,  though  the  vassals  with  whom  I  go  to  con- 
tend were  as  countless  as  the  sands  upon  the  sea  shore,  I 
would  cheerfully  meet  them  all;  and  with  the  certainty  of 


38  THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY. 

death  staring  me  in  the  fticc,  would  strike  while  life  re- 
mained, knowing  that  when  my  bones  should  be  mouldering 
in  the  grave,  my  memory  should  be  sacredly  enshrined  in 
the  heart  of  one  of  America's  noblest  women." 

"Massa!  de  bosses  is  ready!"  exclaimed  Ned,  coming 
rather  unceremoniously  into  tbe  presence  of  his  master 
and  mistress.  "  Dey  been  weilTed  dis  mo'nin,  and  I  curry 
dem  up  as  slick  as  a  pcal'd  ingion.  But  Cha'ley  got  do 
debel  in  him  dis  mo'nin  as  big  as  a  yea'lin.  lie  try  to 
flounce  de  saddil  on  todder  side  all  do  time  I  try  to  put  it 
on." 

"Is  Albert  ready?" 

"Yes,  Father,  I  am  all  ready,*'"  answered  Albert,  spring- 
ing into  the  room,  and  presenting  himself  before  his 
Father  rigged  from  top  to  toe  in  a  suit  of  woolen  home- 
spun, with  his  shot-gun  suspended  to  his  shoulder,  and  his 
revolver  snugly  belted. 

"And  you,  my  boy,  are  going  with  your  Father  to  de- 
fend your  liberty,  are  you?"  said  the  heroic  mother,  her 
every  feature  beaming  with  a  mingled  expression  of  pa- 
triotism and  a  mother's  pride. 

"Yes,  mother,  I  am  going,"  replied  Albert,  in  bold,. 
manly  tones. 

"Well,  son,  remember  your  mother,  and  under  no  cir- 
cumstance ever  so  conduct  yourself  as  to  cause  the  blush  of 
shame  to  mantle  her  cheek  when  your  name  is  called  in 
her  presence." 

"Never!  never!  mother,  while  I  have  the  power  to  act 
will  I  dishonor  ^o?/r  name,"  Albert  exclaimed,  erecting  his 
tall,  manly  form,  and  looking  the  very  personification  of 
all  that  is  brave  and  noble  in  man. 

By  this  time  all  the  members  of  tbe  family  had  gathered 
around  Mr.  Trueman  and  Albert:  and  many  of  the  ser- 


THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY.  39 

vants,  including  the  eccentric  Xed,  were  huddling  about 
the  steps  anxiously  catching  every  word  that  dropped. 

Louie  and  Jennie  stood  arm  in  arm,  in  mute  silence, 
carefully  watching  every  change  in  the  features  of  their 
parents  and  brother,  and  with  all  the  eourage  they  could 
summon,  awaiting  the  departure.  Louie  had  succeeded  in 
quieting  the  fears  of  her  more  timid  sister,  and  in  recon- 
ciling her  to  the  dire  misfortune  which  seemed  to  be  hov- 
ering over  them. 

All  things  being  in  readiness,  Mr.  Trueman  and  Albert, 
with  a  hasty  good-bye  to  their  friends,  mounted  their 
horses  and  started  for  Knoxville.  Long  did  the  mother, 
the  daughters,  and  slaves  stand  at  the  gate,  whither  they 
had  followed  their  protectors,  and  gaze  in  the  direction  of 
Knoxville.  With  all  their  differences  in  character  and  dis- 
position, one  feeling  pervaded  every  soul^-that  of  a  sense 
of  danger.  Even  the  simplest  of  the  negroes  seemed  to 
be  impressed  with  the  idea  that  they  were  standing  on  an' 
isolated,  defenseless  spot,  surrounded  on  every  hand  by 
the  turbulent  waves  of  civil  war. 

Long  after  her  husband  and  son  had  disappeared,  Mrs. 
Trueman  called  her  family  and  servants  together,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  make  the  best  preparations  for  immediate  home- 
defense  which  her  meagre  facilities  would  allow.  Hasty 
barricades  were  constructed  for  the  doors  and  windows, 
and  every  one  capable  of  striking  a  blow  was  provided 
with  an  extem.porized  weapon  of  one  kind  or  another. 
Axes,  hatchets,  pitch  forks,  spades,  carving  knives,  and 
cudgels  innumerable  were  brought  into  requisition.  Mrs. 
Trueman  did  and  said  everything  she  could  to  inspire  her 
daughters  and  slaves  with  hope  and  courage.  She  recoun- 
ted to  them  many  of  the  deeds  of  female  and  negro  hero- 
ism during:  the  Revolution  and  the  Indian  wars.     She  told 


40  THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY. 

Iheni  liow  American  women  had  assisted  their  fathers, 
husbands,  and  brotliers,  in  driving  the  British  fiom  the 
land,  and  establishing  the  independence  of  the  United 
Stiites;  how  bravely  negroes  had  conducted  themselves  in 
the  days  of  Seventy-six;  how  the  wives  and  dau.2:hters  of 
frontier  settlers  had  managed  to  destroy  whole  bands  of 
Indian  savages.  Finally  she  appealed  to  them  in  the 
name  of  all  they  held  sacred  on  earth  or  revered  in  Heav- 
en, to  show  themselves  equal  to  the  emergencies  of  the 
hour.  She  told  them  that  they  were  not  expected  to  go 
out  to  meet  armies  on  the  field  of  battle,  but  to  guard 
home,  property,  and  their  persons  against  such  straggling 
vandals  as  might  be  strolling  about  in  search  of  the  means 
of  gratifying  their  avarice  and  lusts;  that  if  they  valued 
their  lives  and  their  honor,  they  would  show  it  by  resisting 
to  the  utmost  of  their  powers,  any  encroachments  upon 
their  personal  and  domestic  rights;  that  if  th«y  loved  their 
brave  protectors,  wdio'had  taken  their  lives  in  their  hands 
and  gone  to  confront  the  minions  of  the  usurper,  Davis, 
they  would  manifest  it  by  unflinching  courage  in  times  of 
danger. 

By  the  time  she  had  completed  her  arrangements  and 
finished  her  exhortations,  her  daughters  and  negroes  had 
unlimited  confidence  in  her  ability  to  command  thc^pitch 
fork  and  cudgel  brigade.  The  simple-hearted  darkies  re- 
garded her  as  a  chief  well  skilled  in  '-strategy,"  and  fertile 
in  expedients.  Her  bravery  had  long  been  acknowledged. 
Upon  the  approach  of  night,  Mrs.  Trueman  selected  seve- 
ral of  the  most  trusty  of  her  slaves,  and  posted  them  -is 
sentries  to  keep  watch  and  give  the  proper  alarm  in  case 
of  approaching  danger.  She  conferred  upon  the  faithful 
N-ed  the  honor  of  the  ofiice  of  "corporal  of  the  guard," 
and  he  assumed  the  responsibilities  of  his  important  station 


THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY.  41 

with  that  degree  of  alacrity  and  pride  only  known  to  tho 
negro. 

Assembling  his  sable  comrades,  he  delivered  to  them  the 
following  charge: 

•'Fella  Nigga's:  Ole  massa's*  gone  wid  young  massa 
to  Cte  de  secessioners,  an  dar  aint  nobody  heali  to  do 
niiflin  but  ole  missus  and  de  two  young  mi^'suse3  an  dc 
rigga's.  Ole  missus  say  we  mus  stay  'wake  de  'hole  nitc, 
and  neber  go  to  sleep  nary  time,  an  watch  de  scaterlopers 
what  mout  be  gwine  about  seekin  whom  dey  mite  steal 
sombody's  bosses,  or  bu'n  sombody's  ba'n.  I'se  been 
'pinted  to  see  dat  you  does  yoah  duty,  clean  up  to  de 
handle.  Now,  I  '.'^pects  ye  to  keep  yoah  eyes  wide  open, 
if  you  has  to  prop  up  de  lids  wid  splinters.  Now,  don't 
fo'get  dat,  nohow.  Mus'ut  stan  still  nowhah,  fob  nigga 
sleep  standin  bout  as  well  as  lyin  down,  dats  a  fac. 
,  "  If  anybody  come,  let  me  know  fust,  den  I  tell  mi->sus. 
Keep  yo;;h  eyes  skin'd  fob  dat  scallywag  dat  boa'ds  oveh 
to  Johnson's,  what  come  from  de  Norf.  and  say  he  vote 
fob  Brackenridge,  an  blebe  in  Siiddern  rights,  kase  if  de 
Bcatterlopers  cum  roun',  I  blebe  he  be  de  fust  man  to  show 
dem  whar  to  do  dar  dirt  in  dis  neighbo'hood  ;  an  ye  know 
he  got  speshel  spite  at  de  niggers  on  dis  place  kase  dey 
won't  c'rupt  dar  morals  by  'sosheatin  wid  him." 

Having  delivered  this  charge,  Ned  sent  the  guard  to 
their  several  stations  and  established  his  headquarters  on 
bis  ma.ster's  back  porch,  near  the  kennel  of  the  faithful 
b  juse  dog,  pitch  fork  in  hand,  prepared  for  any  emer- 
toncy. 

While  all  these  things  were  transpiring  at  the  Trueman 
plantation,  scenes  of  a  f^\r  more  thrilling  character  were 
occurring  in  another  direction.  Mr.  Trueman  and  Albert 
having  arrived  at  Knoxville,  found  about  one  hundred  and 


42  THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY. 

thirty  Tennessee  patriots  waiting  for  them.  These  men, 
like  Trueman  and  his  son,  were  generally  ignorant  of  mili- 
tary discipline,  and  were  armed  with  rifles,  shot  guns,  re- 
volvers, Bowie  knives,  etc.,  etc. 

Brownlow,  unhappily,  was  lying  very  ill,  and  they  were 
obliged  to  select  another  man  from  their  number  as  their 
leader.  Trueman  was  the  man.  All  had  the  utmost  con- 
fidence in  him.  He  was  known  to  be  honest,  brave,  and 
sagacious;  and  no  one  felt  that  all  that  could  be  done 
would  not  be  accomplished  if  he  commanded  the  company. 

Assuming,  without  hesitation,  the  responsibilities  thrust 
upon  him,  Trueman  proceeded  immediately  to  organize,  as 
best  he  could,  the  men  who  had  placed  themselves  under 
his  charge.  This  being  effected,  he  gave  them  considera- 
ble exercise  in  shooting  and  charging  upon  horseback, 
availing  himself,  in  the  meantime,  of  every  opportunity  for 
testing  their  courage.  To  his  great  satisfaction  he  fouujj 
that  no  man  in  the  whole  number  had  any  of  the  elements 
of  cowardice.  The  company  was  composed  of  tough, 
active,  intrepid  mountaineers,  who  had  never  known  fear; 
of  men  who,  having  always  been  the  freest  of  the  free, 
among  Southrons,  were  not  to  be  subjugated  by  those  they 
deemed  the  enemies  of  liberty ;  of  men  who  loved,  above 
all  other  earthly  things,  the  American  Union,  and  whose  de- 
votion to  the  old  flag  was  superior  to  every  other  earthly  feel- 
ing; of  men  who,  without  succor,  and  surrounded  on  every 
hand  by  a  wall  of  fire,  had  sworn  by  the  memory  of  their 
sires,  by  the  affection  they  bore  their  loved  ones,  and  by 
high  Heaven,  never  to  come  under  the  dominion  of  those 
who  would  level  to  the  dust  the  great  Temple  of  Liberty, 
and  erect  in  its  stead  a  cotton  throne. 

Among  such  men  as  these,  Trueman  felt  that  every  man 
was  a  general,  and  that  the  greatest  duty  which  devolved 


THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY.  43 

upon  him  was  to  show  himself  worthy  of  their  eonfideuce. 
The  task  before  them  was  an  arduous  one.  A  superior 
number  of  drilled  men,  with  all  the  regular  equipments  of 
war,  was  to  be  met  and  driven  from  Eastern  Tennessee. 
Upon  the  success  of  this  undertaking  everything  depended. 
They  had  boldly  declared  their  hostility  to  the  bogus 
Confederate  Government, — their  determination  to  stand  • 
by  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States;  and  in  pursu- 
ance of  this  declaration  they  had  taken  up  arms  to  defy 
their  enemies.  Should  they  fail  everythiag  was  lost. 
Their  property  would  be  confiscated,  their  families  impov- 
erished, and  themselves  doomed  to  imprisonment  and 
death. 

All  these  reflections  crowded  themselves  upon  True- 
man's  mind,  as  he  formed  his  men  in  column  and  gave 
orders  to  march. 

The  foe  they  had  to  meet  had  been  for  some  days  scour- 
ing the  country,  about  twenty  miles  from  Knoxville.  The 
road  to  this  section  lay  through  a  rough,  mountainous 
country — a  country  ofi"ering  the  greatest  facilities  for 
guerilla  warfare — and  was  in  many  places  barely  passable. 
To  guard  against  surprises,  Trueman  selected  from  his 
company  a  guide  thoroughly  acquainted  with  the  route. 
The  loyalists  had  proceeded  only  about  ten  miles,  to  a 
place  where  they  had  previously  intended  to  encamp,  when 
they  discovered  the  enemy.  He,  too,  was  under  march,  ' 
and  was  just  coming  over  the  brow  of  a  hill.  At  first  it 
appeard  to  Trueman  that  the  number  with  which  he  had 
to  contend  did  not  greatly  exceed  his  own,  but  as  the  se- 
cessionists continued  to  pour  platoon  after  platoon,  and 
company  after  company  over  the  hill,  he  saw  that  his  little 
handful  of  men,  compared  with  that  of  the  enemy,  was  as 
a  drop  of  water  to  the  ocean.     As  he  halted,  and  contem- 


4-i  THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY, 

plated  the  vast  odds  against  hira,  his  heart  sickened,  not 
at  the  almost  certain  prospect  of  death  which  stared  him 
and  his  comrades  in  the  face,  but  from  the  fear  that,  de- 
spite all  their  efforts  to  prevent  it,  Eastern  Tennessee 
would  be  overrun  and  subjugated  by  the  destroyers  of 
liberty. 

To  die  was,  in  his  estimation,  and  in  that  of  his  fellow 
patriots,  a  very  small  consideration,  if  by  that  sacrifice, 
freedom  could  be  secured  to  their  portion  of  Tennessee; 
but  if,  with  all  their  resistance  to  the  Confederate  tyrant, 
they  could  not  rescue  their  homes  and  families  from  his 
de>stroying  clutches,  then  was  the  prospect  gloomy  indeed. 

Suddenly,  and  as  unexpected  as  would  have  been  the 
Upheaval  of  a  subterraneous  ocean,  the  secessionists  sprang 
up  on  the  right  and  left  of  the  patriots,  from  undiscovered* 
ambuscade,  and  completely  surrounded  them.  Unprepared 
as  they  were  for  the  surprise,  the  brave  little  band  of  loy- 
alists displayed  the  greatest  coolness.  Trueman  formed 
them  in  line,  remarking  as  he  passed  from  one  to  another 
of  his  men:  "Bo3^s,  we  die  for  Liberty  and  our  homes. 
May  the  martyrdom  we  suffer  to-day  kindle  a  blaze  in 
East  Tennessee  which  shall  dazzle  the  eyes  of  the  Admin- 
istration at  Washington,  and  arouse  it  to  a  sense  of  it3 
duty  to  us," 

The  commanding  officer  of  the  rebel  forces  sent  an  order  - 
demanding  the  immediate  and  unconditional  surrender  of 
the  loyalists.     To  this  Trueman  replied: 

'•Tennessee  Freemen  never  surrender.  They  die!"  and 
ordered  his  men  to  fire. 

Instantly  every  patriot  brought  his  piece  to  his  face, 
and  the  clicking  of  about  one  hundred  and  thirty  locks 
was  followed  by  the  fall  of  as  many  traitors.  The  seces- 
sionists, enraged  at  the  unexampled  bravery  of  so  small  a 


THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY.  45 

handful  of  men,  returned  the  five  with  deadly  effect,  and 
with  demoniac  3'ells  rushed  upon  the  few  rciiiaiuitig  loyal- 
ists, "with  the  determination  of  leaving  none  to  tell  their 
friends  of  the  heroism  they  had  exhibited  on  that  fearful 
day.  But  the  rebel  chief  commanded  that  no  Union  man 
who  surrendered,  or  was  found  wounded,  should  be  killed. 

When  the  smoke  cleared  away,  and  the  secessionists  had 
approached  the  spot  where  the  loyalists  had  fallen,  it  was 
found  that  none  except  the  killed  and  wounded  remained. 
Among  the  latter  was  found  the  noble  Trueman,  with  a 
musket  ball  through  his  right  shoulder.  He  was  immedi- 
ately taken  in  charge  with  others  of  his  wounded  comrades 
and  put  under  surgical  treatment.  The  first  questions  he 
asked  when  restored  to  consciousness  were:  "How  many  of 
the  boys  are  killed?     Where  is  Albert?" 

One  rebel  soldier,  who  happened  to  be  more  humane 
than  the  majority  of  his  comrades,  obtained  leave  to  make 
search  among  the  fallen  patriots  for  one  answering  the  de- 
scription given  him,  by  Mr.  Trueman,  of  x\lbert.  But 
after  making  the  closest  examination  of  every  body,  among 
both  the  dead  and  wounded,  he  found  no  one  resembling 
the  described  Albert. 

Thus  closed  the  scenes  of  one  of  the  most  eventful  days 
of  the  history  of  Tennessee. 

In  the  very  same  hour  that  Mrs.  Trueman  was  organi- 
zing her  female  and  colored  home  guard,  her  husband  was 
a  wounded  prisoner,  in  the  hands  of  his  country's  ene- 
mies, while  her  only  son  had  either  been  disabled,  and 
had  crawled  away  from  the  scene  of  mortal  strife,  and  se- 
creted himself  in  some  cave  or  copse,  or  had  escaped  to 
be  hunted  down  and  shot,  or  captured  and  imprisoned. 
The  brave  little  band  of  loyalists  had,  with  few  exceptions, 
sealed  their  devotion  to  liberty  with  their  life's  blood,  and 


46  THE   TEST    OF    LOYALTY. 

had  thus  erected  for  themselves  a  monument  of  fame  more 
durable  than  marble  or  brass — a  monument  which  shall 
stand  while  the  history  of  America  is  preserved. 

Let  us  now  return  to  the  Hoosier  State  and  see  what  tho 
Clintons  and  their  friends  have  been  doing. 


CHAPTER    III. 


THE    SOLILOQUY — THE     CHANGE. 

"What  a  glorious  morning  is  this,"  soliloquised  Dora 
Clinton,  as  she  stood  upon  the  old,  vine  clad  porch  of  the 
parental  mansion,  and  looked  out  upon  the  green  forest 
fringe  which  girted  her  father's  farm.  "How  exhilerating 
the  soft  breeze  which  comes  through  the  woods  and  across 
the  fields  laden  with  the  fragrance  of  wild  flowers;  how 
soul  thrilling  the  song  with  which  the  robin  hails  the  ap- 
pearance of  the  solar  monarch.  How  like  my  country  in 
its  golden  days  of  peace  and  prosperity  is  this  joy-inspir- 
ing morning.  But,  as  the  brightest  day  is  often  darkened 
by  the  frowning  storm  cloud,  and  rendered  hideous  by  the 
destructive  tornado,  so  is  my  once  happy  country  enveloped 
in  the  sombre  mists  of  revolutionary  gloom,  and  plowed 
by  the  devastating  hurricane  of  civil  war.  And  shall  we 
murmur?  No!  God  is  merciful  even  when  he  frowns; 
beneficent  even  when  he  punishes.  And  as  by  the  dreaded 
storm  and  the  ravaging  tornado  the  elements  are  purified 
and  nature's  disturbed  forces  restored  to  their  wonted 
equilibrium,  so  by  revolution  and  c-ivil  strife  nations  are 
politically  purified,  and  the  unbalanced  machinery  of  State 
restored  to  its  proper  equipoise.  Shallow,  indeed,  is  the 
philosopher  who  can  not  see  the  goodness  of  the  Deity  as 
much  in  the  cloud  as  in  the  sunshine;  as  much  in  the 
raging  tempest  that  lays  waste  a  country  as  in  the  balmy 

47 


48  THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY. 

zephyr  that  fans  an  infant's  cheek;  as  much  in  the  evils  of 
war  as  in  the  blessings  of  pence." 

"Why,  sister,  what  a  pretty  little  sj.-eech  you  have  been 
making  here  to  yourself — a  very  protly  speech,  though  I 
am  not  so  sure  that  i-t  is  all  true.  I  have  my  doubts  as  to 
whether  God  has  anything  to  do  with  this  war.  I  think  it 
likely  the  Pevil  has  more  hand  in  it  than  the  Supreme 
Being." 

''Ah,  George,  is  that  your  notion  of  things?" 

"Yes.  Are  we  not  taught  that  God  is  the  source  of  all 
good,  and  the  Devil  the  author  of  evil?" 

"Certainly;  but  at  the  same  time  are  we  not  taught  that 
Satan  acts  by  permission  of  God?  And  if  he  acts  by  per- 
mission of  God,  then  he  must,  in  some  degree,  be  acting 
out  the  will  of  the  Almighty;  and  whatever  is  in  accord- 
ance with  His  will  is  right,  though  we  may  not  see  it," 

"Well,  sister,  I'm  no  Theologian;  can't  talk  with  you 
much  on  Theology.  It  takes  the  little  preacher  to  do 
that." 

"You  rascal !  " 

"Good  mo'nin  to  you  dis  mo'nin.  How's  de  folks  dis 
mo'nin  ?" 

"Why,  Dick,  what  on  earth  brought  you  here  this  early 
in  the  day?  I  had  no  idea  you  was  out  of  bed  yet.  You 
town  people  generally  sleep  long  after  this  time." 

"  Not  all  ob  'em  don't  sleep  so  pow'ful  late,  Massa  George. 

"De  big  folks  and  de  loafe's  gine'ly  goes  to  bed  at  one 
in  de  night  and  gits  up  at  ten  de  next  day ;  but  de  me- 
chanics and  workin'  people,  an  nigga's  goes  to  bed  early 
and  gits  up  wid  de  sun.  Dey  has  to  make  a  libben  you 
knows. 

"Wha's  Massa  Clinton?" 

"He's  out  taking  his  usual   morninc;  ramble  about  the 


THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY.  49 

farm,"  answered  Dora;  ''examining  the  fences  and  looking 
after  the  stock.     Do  you  wish  to  see  him?" 
"Yes,  Miss  Dory,  if  you  pleases." 

"TTell,  take  a  seat,"  said  George,  handing  Dick  a  chair. 
'•He  will  be  in  soon.  But,  Dick!  I  and  J)ora  have  just 
been  contending  as  to  who  has  the  biggest  hand  in  the 
war,  God  or  the  Devil.     What  do  you  think  about  it?" 

"Wy,  Massa  George,  dats  a  question  dU  chile  know;^' 
bery  little  'bout.  I  go  last  Sunday  mo'nin  to  heah  dc 
Prispiteeriu  preecheh,  an  he  say  he  tink  God  frough  dc 
Debil  bring  dis  wah  on  de  people  case  dey  be  gitten  too 
proud  an  wicked.  Den  I  go  to  heah  de  nigger  Metidisl, 
what  preach  in  de  supernumerated  Piscopalen  chu'ch,  in 
de  evenin,  an  he  say  dat  needer  God  nor  de  Debil  hab  eny- 
'ting  to  do  wid  it;  but  dat  de  enslavement  ob  de  x\fricanuB 
popy-lye  be  de  whole  cause.  Who  de  Africanus  popy-lve 
be  I  knows  not,  but  from  what  de  preecheh  say  I  'spose  he 
be  a  nigga.  Between  de  'pinions  ob  dese  two  big  preeches 
dis  chile  git  conside'bly  mixed  up,  and  de  moah  he  trys  to 
settle  which  is  de  best  de  mo'eh  he  gits  dumfusticated." 

"  Well,  Dick,"  said  Dora  laughing — while  George  was 
too  full  of  mirth  to  say  anything  — "I  don't  blame  you 
for  being  bothered,  for  it  is  very  hard  for  the  best  educated 
of  us  to  harmonize  the  differences  between  the  conflicting 
doctrines  of  the  present  day." 

"Well,  Miss  Dora,  I  'spects  afteh  all  de  poor  nigga  haf 
to  bar  de  blame  ob  dis  wah,  case  ef  dar  had'nt  a  been  no 
nigga  dar  would  n't  a  been  no  wah,  dats  a  fac.'° 

"We  don't  know  that,  Dick,"  replied  Dora,  more  serious- 
ly, "because  although  the  absence  of  negroes  might  have 
prevented  a  war  such  as  the  present  one,  yet  when  any  peo- 
ple become  so  politically  corrupt  as  ours  are  they  have  to 
have  a  revolution." 
4 


50  THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY. 

"Spects  dat  so,  too,  Miss  Dora;  but  ye  know  nigga  don't 
know  nufl&n  'bout  polyticks  no  bow." 

"Hallo,  Dick,  wbat  wind  blew  you  bcre  at  tbis  bour  in 
tbe  morning?"  jocularly  asked  Mr.  Clinton,  suddenly  ap- 
pearing from  tbe  back  yard  and  ascending  tbe  steps  at  tbe 
side  of  tbe  porcb,  and  taking  a  seat  upon  tbe  old  cusbion- 
ed  settee  be  always  reposed  upon  wbcn  warm  and  tired  in 
tbe  summer. 

"Wby,  Massa  Clinton,  am  dat  you.?  You's  de  bery  man 
I  wants  to  see. 

"You  see,  Massa  Clinton,  me  an  Missus  Venom  bad  a 
fallen  out  last  nigbt  'bout  Missus  Loyal.  Todder  day 
somebody  knock  at  de  doab.  Missus  Yenom  call  me  'me- 
jetly  and  say:  Dick,  go  an  open  de  doab,  and  don't forgit 
wbat  I  alers  tells  you;  if  it  be  Missus  Loyal,  tell  ber  I 
aint  at  bome  wben  ber  or  any  odder  Abumlisbenest  comes 
to  see  me.  Well  sboab  'nuflf  wben  I  goes  to  de  doab  dar 
was  dat  bery  Missus  Loyal ;  an  sbe  ax  me  wbab  is  Missus 
Venom?  an  say  sbe  want  to  see  ber  'bout  donatin  blankets 
and  quilts,  and  sicb  like  to  de  sogers,  case.de  Guv'ment 
hadn't  bad  time  to  git  'em  fob  de  boys.  Ob  coase  I  do  my 
juty,  an  so  says  I:  'Missus  Loyal,  Missus  Venom  be  in 
de  settin  room;  but  sbe  say  sbe  not  at  bome  wben  you  or 
eny  odder  Abumlisbenest  cum.'  Missus  Venom  beab  me 
ob  coase,  an  wben  I  went  to  de  settin  room  sbe  ligbt  rigbt 
into  me  like  a  bornet,  for  tellin  Missus  Loyal  too  mucb. 
Sbe  say  sbe  no  want  me  to  say:  'Missus  Venom  is  at  home, 
and  say  so  an  so,'  but  dat  sbe  want  me  to  make  de  woman 
blebe  sbe  was  sbore  'nuff  gone;  an  all  dat  'bout  Abumlisb 
sbe  want  me  to  lef  out  all  togedder. 

"Dreckly  Massa  Venom  came  bome,  an  Missus  Venom 
tell  bim  all  'bout  wbat  was  de  matter,  an  so  says  be:  'I 
guess  I'll  sbip  Dick;  be's  dangrous  nigga.'     Den  be  pay 


THE   TEST   OF   LOYALTY.  51 

me  off  an  tell  me  to  go  an  git  a  place  'mong  de  Abumlisli- 
enests.  But  den  I  does  n't  like  Abumlish,  case  I  don't 
wan't  de  niggas  sot  free  and  sent  'mong  ns,  you  knows. 
So  I  thought  I  come  out  here  dis  mo'nin  an  see  if  you 
want  eny  help.  I  can  plow,  or  hoe  corn,  or  tend  he  hosses 
or  eny  ting  most  you  wants  done  'bout  de  farm." 

"Well,  Dick,  I  believe  you  are  honest,  and  I  have  always 
heard  that  you  worked  well ;  and  as  you  have  come  in  just 
the  right  time,  I  guess  we  will  take  you.  You  will  not  be 
required,  here,  to  take  up  your  time  in  opening  and  closing 
doors,  and  running  errands,  but  in  hard  work  about  the 
farm,"  replied  Mr.  Clinton,  while  his  fun-full  countenance 
showed  how  he  had  enjoyed  Dick's  simple,  frank,  narra- 
tion of  the  causes  which  led  to  his  dismissal.  Meantime 
Dora  and  George  had  stepped  a  little  aside  and  given  them- 
selves up  to  the  hear-tiest  kind  of  laughing. 

*'But  what  did  Mr.  Venom  pay  you,  Dick?" 

"Fifty  cents  a  day,  Massa." 

"Well,  if  you  will  work  well,  I  will  give  you  a  dollar  a 
day  for  day  work,  or  twenty  dollars  a  m-onth,  wet  and  dry, 
boarding,  washing  and  mending  thrown  in." 

"I  tak  de  las,  Massa.  De  las  suit  me  de  best,  and  if  dis 
chile  don't  work,  tell  him  ob  it." 

It  is,  perhaps,  proper  to  state  here  that  Dick  was  not 
born  free.  When  about  twenty  years  old  his  master,  a 
Kentuckian,  had,  upon  his  death  bed,  freed  all  his  slaves, 
some  fifteen  in  number,  when  Dick  found  his  way  to  the 
Hoosier  city,  where  he  had  some  friends,  and  had  worked 
steadily  for  Venom  up  to  the  breaking  out  of  the  rebellion, 
when  the  unfortunate,  or  fortunate  affair  just  related  caused 
his  dimissal. 

Dick,  immediately  entered  upon  the  performance  of  his 
new  duties,  feeling  even  happy  that  he  had  been  discharged, 


52  THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY. 

seeing  it  had  resulted  in  a  considerable  advancement  in 
his  wages.  He  was  immediately  given  the  charge  of  the 
horses,  and  instructed  in  reference  to  the  manner  in  which 
the  labor  which  was  expected  of  him  should  be  done. 

"Father,"  said  George,  after  Dick  had  gone  to  work, 
and  he  and  his  father  had  returned  to  the  house,  ''I  will 
give  you  all  my  wages  while  in  the  service,  and  allow  it  to 
be  paid  on  Dick's  hire." 

"No!  no  !  my  son,  never!  I  am  fully  able  to  defray  the 
expense  of  the  help  employed  in  your  stead.  Give  your- 
self no  uneasiness  about  that." 

"Why,  ole  man,  have  you  gone  and  hired  that  great 
thick-lipped,  white  eyed  nigger?"  exclaimed  Mrs.  Clinton, 
in  a  tone  of  surprise,  as  she  came  from  the  sitting  room, 
rubbing  her  hands  together,  and  looking  over  the  tops  of 
her  spectacles,  as  much  as  to  say,  why  was  /  not  con- 
sulted? 

"Of  course  I  have.  Is  there  anything  wrong  about 
it?' 

"Anything  wrong  about  it!  Why,  don't  you  know  he's 
no  'count  to  you?     What  does  he  know  'bout  farmin?" 

"He  says  he  knows  something  about  it;  and  he  seems 
to  be  honest  and  anxious  to  work.  You  know  I  am  greatly 
in  need  of  help,  so  I  thought  I  would  hire  him." 

"How  come  he  to  leave  Venom?" 

Mr.  Clinton  here  related  the  circumstance  which  threw 
Dick  out  of  his  old  place,  about  as  he  had  it  from  the 
latter. 

Mrs.  Clinton  stood  a  moment  contemplating  first  George 
and  then  his  father,  with  a  mingled  expression  of  vexa- 
tion and  disappointment. 

"And  is  George  bound  to  go,  then?" 

**Why,  certainly,  mother.     What  do  you  mean  by  such 


THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY.  53 

a  question?"  said  Dora,  who  until  now  had  said  nothing 
since  her  mother  appeared. 

"I  reccon  I've  got  a  right  to  ask  such  a  questioR. 
George  is  my  boy,  an  I'm  his  mother;  and  there  aint  no- 
body can  feel  for  a  boy  like  his  mother.  Besides,  George 
is  too  young  to  go  to  war.  He  ain't  stout  enough  to  stan 
it;  an  he's  not  bound  to  go  yit  till  he's  sworn  in,  if  I  aint 
badly  mistaken." 

'Olother!''  exclaimed  George,  whose  feelings  could  no 
longer  be  suppressed,  "does  not  my  honor  bind  me?  Have 
I  not  placed  my  name  on  the  enlistment  roll,  and  pledged 
myself  to  appear  promptly  when  required,  and  be  mustered 
into  the  service?  Who  will  I  be  in  this  country,  and  what 
will  the  boys  belonging  to  the  company  think  if  I  should 
break  that  pledge?  I  thought  you  was  willing  for  me  to 
go,  from  what  you  said  yesterday,  and  I  am  sure  I  have  no 
desire  to  go  against  your  will,  but  it  is  too  late  now  to 
talk  of  retraction.  Rather  let  me  die  than  break  my 
promise  to  my  country." 

"Wife,  the  boy  is  right.  It  is  certainly  wrong  to  try  to 
persuade  him  out  of  the  service  now.  It  is  a  death  blow  to 
one's  future  manhood  to  induce  him  to  trifle  with  his 
honor  while  young.  By  no  means  say  anything  to  dis- 
courage George,  now  that  he  has  enlisted." 

"Well,  I  spose  you  '11  haf  to  have  your  own  way,  as  you 
allers  do  in  everything,"  Mrs.  Clinton  muttered,  retiring 
to  her  room,  wiping  her  spectacles  and  eyes,  alternately. 

"What  in  the  world  can  be  the  matter  with  mother?" 
inquired  George,  excitedly,  as  Mrs.  Clinton  disappeared. 

"I  don't  know,  son,  unless  it  is  her  extreme  anxiety 
about  you,  and — " 

"No,  Father,  it  is  not  all  that,"  interrupted  Dora.  "I 
know  mother  loves  George;  but  about  two  hours'  talk  with 


54  THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY. 

Mrs.  Venom  has  done  more  to  make  her  oppose  his 
joining  the  army  than  anything  else." 

"Perhaps  that  may  have  something  to  do  with  it,  my 
daughter.'' 

"Oh!"  exclaimed  George,  if  Mrs.  Venom  has  talked 
with  her,  the  mystery  is  solved  at  once,  because — " 

"  There,,  be  moderate,  boy.  Remember  the  frailty  of 
humanity,  and  especially  the  susceptibility  of  woman. 
Mrs.  Venom  is  naturally  a  kind,  good  hearted  woman,  but 
she  is  united  for  life  to  man  who,  although  very  clever  and 
honorable  in  a  private  capacity,  is  so  strongly  attached  to 
his  party  that  he  can  approve  no  public  act  outside  of  it." 

"Yes,  Father;"  said  Dora,  "it  is  a  great  pity  for  our 
sex  that  we  are  not  independent  enough.  "We  are  not  al- 
together to  blame  for  it,  however;  for  our  education  and 
social  relations  are  such  as  to  rob  us  of  our  individuality, 
and  make  either  dolls  or  slaves  of  us  all,  and  in  most  in- 
stances both.  You  cannot  expect  women  to  exercise  a  free 
judgment  when  they  are  taught  from  childhood  that,  be- 
yond music  and  the  soft  languages,  their  educational 
sphere  does  not  properly  extend,  and  that  to  take  an  inte- 
rest in  matters  of  Government  renders  them  coarse  and 
masculine. 

"As  it  respects  politics,  women  and  negroes  are  generally 
on  a  level  in  America,  and  in  some  States  the  latter  are 
superior.  Woman  will  never  fully  develop  her  self-hood 
while  she  is  tauo^ht  that  it  is  all  mer^red  in  that  of  herleii^e 
lord." 

"Why,  daughter,  you  seem  to  be  getting  strong  minded. 
Have  you  been  hearing  Lucy  Stone,  or  reading  Carrie  D. 
Filkins'  paper?" 

"Father,  I  know  nothing  except  what  I  have  seen  in  the 
vulgar  political  sheets  in  the  way  of  unmanly  slurs,  of  the 


THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY.  55 

teachings  of  the  women  to  whom  you  have  referred;  but 
from  the  public  odium  heaped  upon  them,  I  think  I  might 
learn  much  that  is  truly  ennobling  from  either  one  of 
them — much  valuable  truth  not  taught  in  the  majority  of 
the  female  boarding  schools  of  the  day." 

"Well,  we've  had  enough  of  this,"  said  Mr.  Clinton, 
rising  slowly  from  his  seat  and  moving  toward  the  front  of 
the  porch.  "George,  I  guess  you  must  go  to  town  with 
me  this  forenoon.  I  don't  like  to  trust  myself  alone  with 
that  colt,  and  Dick  is  using  both  the  old  horses  in  the 
plow." 

"Very  well.  Father;  shall  I  catch  up  and  get  ready?" 

"Yes." 

"May  I  go  along,  Father?"  eagerly  asked  Dora.  "I 
will  not  tease  you  any  more  about  women's  rights,  but  will 
try  and  be  a  pretty  girl." 

"  Do  you  really  need  to  go,  my  daughter?" 

"Yes,  indeed  I  do.  I  want  to  get  some  bonnet  ribbon, 
some  stationery,  and  I  want  to  mail  some  letters,  and  in- 
quire for  some  I  am  expecting." 

"Well,  get  ready,  then,  while  George  is  getting  out  the 
carriage,  for  we  can't  afford  to  wait  long.  We  must  get 
back  by  nine  o'clock." 

"I  will  be  ready  before  you  are,  Father,  I'll  bet." 

And  Dora  skipped  away  to  her  dressing  room  and  was 
fully  prepared  for  her  town  trip  some  time  before  George 
brought  the  carriage  to  the  gate;  while  her  father  went  to 
inform  Mrs.  Clinton,  and  ask  her  what  she  wanted  brought 
from  town. 

"Are  we  all  ready?"  inquired  Mr.  Clinton,  giving  his 
venerable  beaver  the  last  and  finishing  swipe  with  his  silk 
bandana. 

"I  am  ready,"  answered  George. 


5B  THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY. 

■*^'And  so  am  I,  and  have  been  for  so;nc  time,"  said  Dora. 

"Then  let's  be  oflF  at  once." 

"Here,  ole  man,  you  are  about  to  forgit  tlie  molasses 
jug.  Git  it  full,  for  that  nigger  you've  hired  'ell  stow 
away  a  pint  at  a  meal,  I'll  bet.  I  never  seed  a  nigger  in 
my  life  that  didn't  eat  twice  his  weight  every  month,  in 
molasses,  when  he  could  git  it." 

"Well,  wife,  never  mind  about  the  molasses.  If  the 
man  works  well  we  can  afford  to  feed  him." 

"Why,  is  Dora  goin,  too?"  inquired  Mrs.  Clinton,  de- 
murely. "Now,  Dora,  for  your  mother's  sake  don't  git 
into  a  fuss  to-day  with  enny  of  your  friends.  Come^  you 
know  we  do-n't  want  to  quarrel  with  every  body,  and  git 
the  people  in  town  so  down  on  us  that  they  won't  come  to 
see  us." 

"  You  need  not  uneasy  yourself  about  that,  mother," 
replied  Dora.  "I  shall  make  no  quarrel  with  anybody  but 
traitors,  and  only  with  them  when  they  come  in  my  way. 
And  as  for  visitors,  I  want  none  except  those  who  stand 
by  the  flag — those  whose  brains  have  not  been  cobwebbed 
by  the  spider  of  disunion,  and  whose  every  heart-throb 
responds  to  the  taps  on  the  bell  of  Liberty." 

"More  o'  your  boardin  school  highferluten,"  muttered 
the  old  lady,  as  she  turned  and  walked'with  vexed  agility 
to  her  room.      "I'm  afcard  you'll  ruin  the  family,  yit." 

By  the  time  she  had  reached  her  room  and  seated  her- 
self to  her  sewing,  Mr.  Clinton,  Dora,  and  George,  were 
rolling  toward  the  city. 

Arrived  there,  George  took  the  horse  and  carriage  to  a 
livery  stable,  and  thence  proceeded  to  the  quarters  of  his 
company;  and  Dora  went  to  her  shopping  and  post  office 
errands,  while  her  father  went  about  the  transaction  of  his 
domestic  business. 


THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY.  57 

At  the  company  quarters  George  found  his  brother  vol- 
unteers in  high  glee  over  a  late  Union  victory  in  Western 
Virginia.  He  had  a  jolly  time  with  them,  and  left,  assur- 
ing them  that  he  would  soon  be  with  them. 

Dora,  on  inquiring  at  the  post  office,  received  several 
letters,  and  among  others,  one  from  Tennessee.  The  hand- 
writing on  the  envelope  told  her  plainly  whom  it  was  from, 
and  she  immediately  tore  it  open  and  read  the  contents. 
Folding  it  and  slipping  it  into  her  pocket,  she  soliloquized, 
audibly: 

"I  wonder  what  mother  will  think  of  that  when  I  read 
it  to  her?  What  will  be  her  opinion  then  of  the  slimy 
reptiles  in  the  North  that  crawl  in  the  mire  of  secession 
sympathy?  Oh!  won't  I  read  that  letter  to  her  with  em- 
phasis?" And  from  beneath  the  cloud  of  her  dark  brow 
flashed  the  lightning  of  indignation.  "I  will  go  this 
minute  and  find  George.  Ah!  there  he  goes  across  the 
corner." 

"George!  George!" 

"Hallo!     Is  that  you,  Dora?" 

"Yes.     Hold  on  a  moment;  I  want  to  see  you." 

Tripping  diagonally  across  the  street,  (for  she  was  too 
wholly  absorbed  in  her  thoughts  to  show  any  regard  to  the 
ordinance  of  the  council  of  fashion,  requiring  all  well- 
bred  people  to  keep  the  sidewalk,)  she  ran  up  to  George 
and  handed  him  the  Tennessee  letter.  He  opened  and 
read;  but  before  he  reached  the  bottom  of  the  last  page, 
he  handed  the  letter  nervously  back  to  his  sister,  exclaim- 
ing: 

"Can  it  be  possible?  I  wonder  what  Father  will  think 
of  Hardhead  when  he  hears  that?" 

"AVhy,  he'll  think  about  what  I  told  him  several  eve- 
nings  ago,"   returned   Dora,  bringing  her  little  foot  down 


58  THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY. 

on  the  pavement,  and  tossing  her  head  as  much  as  to  say: 
''I'm  not  generally  wrong  in  my  judgment  of  a  man,  if  I 
am  young,  and  a  woman." 

Passing  up  Main  street,  Dora  and  George  met  their 
father  engaged  in  a  ver}^  low  conversation  with  Hardhead. 
Dora  immediately  plucked  her  father  aside,  and  said,  loud- 
ly enough  for  Hardhead  to  hear: 

"Father,  pardon  my  presumption,  but  have  you  no  bet- 
ter way  of  spending  your  time  than  in  conversation  with 
that  old  traitor?" 

"Hush,  you  silly  child.  You  are  certainly  not  crazy 
enough  to  insult  a  man  on  the  street." 

"No,  not  a  man;  but  an  uncouth,  scaly,  secession  liz- 
zard,  I  would  not  only  insult,  but  kick  out  of  my  way  just 
now,  if  he  were  to  drag  his  hideous  form  across  my  track," 
replied  Dora,  in  a  considerably  louder  tone,  looking  darts 
into  Hardhead's  countenance. 

The  latter,  fearing  an  engagement  with  Dora  even  more 
than  the  "ruflGtanly  soldiers,'*  as  he  called  them,  wh^  some 
days  previous  had  shown  him  a  little  more  attention  than 
he  thought  consistent  with  good  breeding,  turned  rapidly 
on  his  heel,  and  without  as  much  as  saying  good  day, 
made  quick  time  to  his  office,  growling  as  he  went: 

"What  a  d 1   of  a  minx,  old   Clinton's  daughter  is 

getting  to  be." 

"Father,"  said  Dora,  "I  have  a  letter  here  from  Ten- 
nessee which,  when  you  hear  its  contents,  will  open  your 
eyes  wider,  I  apprehend,  than  they  were  ever  known  to  be 
before.  You  '11  hate  rebels  as  badly  as  I  do,  I  think,  when 
you  hear  the  news  from  our  Tennessee  friends." 

"Why,  what  can  it  be?" 

"Never  mind  now.  You  shall  know  it  all  when  we  get 
home." 


THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY.  55 

"Well,  if  you   and  George  are  ready  we  will  be  off  at 
once.     I  believe  I  have  nothing  further  to  do." 

"  I  guess  there  is  nothing  to  keep  ws  here  any  longer,  is 
there,  George?" 

"Nothing  on  my  part,  Dora." 

"Then  let's  go  right  away." 

And  Mr.   Clinton   led  the  way  toward  the  stable  where 
George  had  left  the  horse  and  carriage. 

In  less  than  an  hour  the  Clinton  family  were  seated  in 
a  group  on  the  old  porch,  anxiously  awaiting  the  reading 
of  the  Tennessee  letter. 
.    "Come,  Dora,"  said  Mr.  Clinton,  "let's  have  that  news, 

right  off." 

"Very  well.     You  shall  have  it,  instanter." 

And   Dora   drew   the  letter  from  her  pocket,  opened  it, 

and  read : 

"Loved  Cousin:  Your  fears  that 'evil  might  come 
upon  our  family  on  account  of  Father's  strong  Union  sen- 
timents, have  been  realized.  Eastern  Tennessee,  being 
without  the  means  of  defense,  has  been  overrun  by  the 
secessionists,  and  yesterday  afternoon,  in  an  effort  to  drive 
them  out  of  the  country,  the  loyal  East  Tennesseeans  were 
literally  cut  to  pieces.  Of  course  Father  and  Albert  were 
among  the  loyalists;  and  Father  was  dangerously  wounded 
by  a  musket  ball  which  passed  through  his  right  shoulder. 
What  became  of  Albert  we  know  not.  He  has  not  been 
heard  of  since  the  fight.  Whether  he  was  mortally 
wounded,  and  crawled  into  some  hidden  place  and  died,  or 
has  escaped  and  is  waiting  an  opportunity  to  get  home,  we 
are  left  to  conjecture.  In  either  case  death  seems  equally 
certain,  because  the  secessionists,  having  overcome  all  op- 
positiouj  are  searching  out  Union  men   every  where,  and 


GO  THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY. 

imprisoning,  shooting,  and  hanging  them,  in  the  most  bar- 
barous manner. 

"In  one  single  day  three  men  have  been  hung  ^Yithout 
c\;cn  the  favor  of  trial;  five  have  been  shot  while  trying  to 
escape,  and  any  number  have  been  thrown  into  loathsome 
prisons.  Many  of  the  latter  have  been  sent  hundreds  of 
miles  from  their  now  destitute  fimiilies,  to  be  manacled  and 
dunireoned  in  the  far  South. 

o 

"All  these  sufferers  are  the  most  respectable  and  enter- 
prising of  our  citizens. 

"This  very  forenoon  a  Union  man  was  hung,  without 
trial,  right  by  a  railroad  stjition,  and  as  the  passenger  train 
passed,  many  of  the  so-called  chivalry  of  the  South,  came 
ou:  upon  the  car  platforms  and  kicked  the  poor  man's 
lifeless  body.  He  hangs  there  yet,  an  undeniable  evidence 
of  both  the  devoted  loyalty  of  Tennessee  patriots,  and  the 
heathenish  barbarity  of  Southern  traitors. 

"It  will  be  hard,  I  reckon, for  you  to  believe  these  state- 
ments; but  as  certain  as  there  is  a  world,  they  are  true. 
If  anybody  had  told  me  a  year  ago  that  any  of  our  people 
could  do  what  I  have  seen  them  do  within  a  few  days,  I 
should  have  scouted  the  idea,  and  considered  its  author  as^ 
fit  for  the  mad  house.  But  what  I  hare  seen  I  must  be- 
lieve.    I  am  now  prepared  to  expect  anything. 

"My  own  dear  Father  is  now  lying  a  wounded  prisoner 
in  the  county  jail,  and  dim,  indeed,  is  the  hope  that  he 
will  escape  execution.  I  and  ma  visit  him  frequently,  and 
do  all  we  can  to  alleviate  his  sufferings  and  cheer  his  de- 
pres!-:ed  spirits. 

"Oh!  cousin;  ycu  kno«r  nothing  yet  of  the  horrors  of 
this  wicked  rebellion.  Nor  do  I  wish  that  you  ever  may 
experience  what  I  have.  No  power  on  earth  can  picture 
my  feelings  as  I  now  write;  not  only  on  account  of  the 


THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY.  61 

present,  but  in  contemplation  of  the  future.  There  is  here 
no  security  of  either  life  or  property.  Many  of  our  neigh- 
bors have  been  ruthlessly  stripped  of  all  their  means. 
While  Union  men  have  been  cruelly  murdered,  their  wives 
and  little  ones  have  been,  from  wealth  and  luxury,  hurled 
into  extreme  destitution.  AYe  know  not  what  moment  we 
may  share  the  common  fate  of  a!l  who  prefer  the  stars  and 
stripes  to  the  rattlesnake  and  pelican  flags.  Mother  is  as 
determined  as  father,  and  declares  she  will  suffer  anything 
before  she  will  submit  to  the  Confederate  wolves.  Only 
yesterday  she  drew  a  pistol  to  shoot  a  Confederate  officer 
who  came  to  take  down  the  American  flag,  which  floats 
over  our  house.  As  sure  as  the  traitor  had  entered  the 
yard  he  would  have  been  a  dead  man,  for  when  mother 
talks  about  shooting,  she  means  it. 

'•Father,  although  wounded  and  expecting  to  be  exe- 
cuted, suffers  very  little  on  his  own  account;  but  the 
thought  of  what  we  may  have  to  endure,  and  the  subjuga- 
tion of  Eastern  Tennessee,  weigh  constantly  on  his  soul. 

"We  have  no  chance  to  do  anything  but  remain  here  and 
die,  or  suffer  worse  than  death.  The  Government  has  dona 
nothing  for  us.  Perhaps  it  has  done  all  it  could;  but  to 
people  situated  as  we  are,  patience  is  a  stranger.  We  are 
in  no  condition  to  allow  for  the  apparent  delays  of  the 
Administration. 

"How  gladly  would  we  accept  your  invitation  to  come 
North,  if  we  could.  But  how  cap  we?  In  the  first  place, 
Father  is  wounded  and  a  prisoner,  and  we  would  all  wil- 
lingly die  with  him  before  we  would  leave  him.  But  even 
if  he  were  well  and  with  us,  there  is  no  chance  of  escape. 
So  you  see  the  prospects  for  our  coming  to  you  are  indeed 
poor. 


i.. 


62  THE    TEST    OF    EOVAI.TY. 

■"Jennie,  and  I,  and  mother,  are  enjoying  tolerable 
health,  physically ;  spiritually,  "we  are  sick  enough. 

"Our  love  to  your  nia  and  pa,  and  cheers  to  George,  vf\\o 
has  enrolkd  himself  in  his  '  ountry's  cause. 
•^'Your  cousin, 

"Louie." 
"Dora," 

While  this  letter  was  being  read,  every  heart  was 
touched.  Mrs.  Clinton,  naturally  one  of  the  most  erratic 
and  susceptible  of  persons,  was  wrought  up  to  the  highest 
pitch. 

"Goodness  sakes  alive!  Is  it  possible!  Lord  have 
mercy!  Poor  brother  John!  What  will  become  of  him 
an  his  family?  Aint  there  no  help  for  them?  Can't 
anything  be  done?  Must  they  all  stay  there  an  be 
killed?  Are  we  never  to  see  them  any  more?  Oh,  my 
God,  my  God!"  cried  Mrs.  Clinton,  while  her  whole  frame 
quivered  with  aa  internal  agony,  which  even  she  could  not 
express.  -"George,  you  may  go  now,  an  kill  every  secesh 
you  see." 

"Oh!  how  I  should  like  to  be  one  of  an  army  to  clean 
the  heathens  out  of  East  Tenneesee  and  rescue  the  noble 
Union  men  of  that  State,"  said  George,  erecting  his  form, 
and  contracting  his  fingers  as  though  he  were  gripping  a 
musket.  "Wouldn't  I  like  to  help  strike  down  the  keep- 
ers of  uncle's  jail,  burst  open  the  doors,  and  bear  him 
home  to  his  family."  And  George's  eye  lighted  up  as 
though  he  would  soon  be  allowed  to  accomplish  what  he 
so  much  desired. 

"When  are  you  to  be  mustered  in,  George?"  asked  Mr. 
Clinton. 

"Why,  the  captain  said  day  after  to-morrow,  he 
thought." 


THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY.  63 

'•AVell,  perliaps  you  may  have  the  privilege  of  going 
where  you  seem  so  anxious  to  go;  and  it  looks  like  that  is 
YFhere  you  are  needed  most." 

'•I  do  hope  they  will  send  us  there,  right  off,  Father." 

'•By  the  way,  son,  here  is  a  paper  I  brought  from  town. 
I  want  you  to  read  it  to  me." 

'•Of  course  I  will.  Father." 

"Well,  take  it,  and  turn  to  the  telegraphic  dispatches, 
and  read  them  first.     I  want  to  hear  the  war  news." 

George  took  the  paper,  while  his  mother  and  Dora  went 
to  the  kitchen,  and  read  the  whole  telegraphic  column. 
Among  other  dispatches  was  one  stating  that  the  President 
was  going  to  take  immediate  steps  toward  succoring  the 
loyalists  of  Eastern  Tennessee. 

"That's  the  very  thing  I  wanted  to  hear.  Son,  read 
it  over." 

George  read  it  the  second  time. 

"That's  the  talk.  I  tell  you  Old  Abe  begins  to  suit  me 
pretty  well,  if  he  is  a  Republican." 

"Who  cares  for  Kepublican,  Democrat,  or  anybody -else, 
Father,  so  the  war  is  vigorously  prosecuted  against  the 
rebels.  It  makes  no  difference  who  puts  the  rebellion 
down,  so  it  is  done." 

George  now  turned  to  another  page  and  read  a  copied 
editorial  from  the  Kew  York  Ledger, — formerly  a  strong 
Breckenridge  paper, — which  was  pregnant  with  highly 
patriotic  sentiments.  He  then  read  another  from  the  Tri- 
hune  very  much  of  the  same  character, 

"Why,  is  it  possible  that  these  two  papers  are  about  to 
get  into  the  same  channel  after  fighting,  as  they  have,  for 
so  many  years?"  asked  Mr.  Clinton. 

"Why,  certainly.  Father;  stranger  things  than  that  are 
happening  every  day.     This  war  is  producing  some  yery 


C4  THE   TEST   OF    LOYALTY. 

remarkable  changes.  See  General  Butler  doing  the  noblest 
service  in  the  army,  while  Jesse  J).  Bright  improves  every 
opportunity  to  strike  an  underhanded  blow  at  the  Govern- 
ment. See  Edward  Everett  taking  the  loftiest,  patriotic 
stand,  while  John  Bell  unites  with  the  dirty  secessionists 
of  his  State." 

""Won't  it  be  a  glorious  day  in  the  history  of  this  coun- 
try when  party  is  forgotten  and  only  country  is  thought 
of,  my  son?*' 

"Indeed  it  will;  and  it  looks  now  as  though  matters 
were  drifting  that  way,  in  the  North." 

George  turned  to  another  page  and  ran  his  eye  over  it 
until  he  came  to  an  extract  from  a  speech  of  one  C.  L. 
Yallandigham,  and  read  a  few  paragraphs. 

"There,  George,  that's  enough  of  that.  It  sounds  just 
like  Yancy  or  Jeff.  Davis  before  the  war.  If  you  can't 
find  anything  better  than  that  you  may  bring  mc  my  pipe. 
I'm  in  no  humor  for  that  kind  of  stuff,  just  after  hearing 
the  news  from  East  Tennessee." 

George  brought  the  pipe,  and  Mr.  Clinton,  after  "filling 
and  lighting  it,  proceeded  to  sooth  his  agitated  nervous  sys- 
tem, through  the  never  failing  agency  of  the  narcotic 
weed,  and  to  hide  the  memory  of  Yallandigham  in  huge 
columns  of  smoke. 

"Massa  Clinton,  was  dat  de  dinna  ho'n  I  heard  way  out 
on  todder  side  ob  de  field?" 

"Yes.     None  too  soon  for  you  I  reckon." 

"Ob  coarse  not,  massa.     I  tell  you  dis  chile's  hungry." 

"Well,  come  right  on  out  to  dinner.     Come,  George." 

In  a  few  minutes  all  were  seated  round  the  dinner  table, 
and,  of  course,  the  leading  topic  was  the  condition  of 
thinsrs  in  Tennessee.     Dick  sat  some  time  in  mute  silence 


THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY.  65      " 

listening-  attentively  to  what  was   being  said.     Finally  he 
ventured  a  question. 

''  Massa  George,  did  you  say  de  secessioners  be  confis- 
ticatin  an  bu'nin  all  de  property  in  East  Tennessee?" 

"Yes;  all  the  property  of  Union  men." 

"Den  what'll  become  ob  deniggas?  Will  dey  be  confis- 
ticated,  too?" 

"Certainly;  all  belonging  to  Union  men." 

"Reecon  dat  'ed  be  a  good  place  for  Massa  Venom.  He 
say  he  like  to  own  a  hund"ed  niggas,  an  lib  in  de  Souf;  an 
I  spects  dars  a  good  chance  dar  in  Tennessee  now  to  git 
niggas  putty  cheap.  Dars  only  one  thing  in  his  way,  I 
spose,  an  dat  is,  he's  too  big  cowa'd  to  do  de  necessary 
fightin.  Massa  Venom  sleep  good  nary  night.  He  lie 
'wake  mos  all  de  time  specten  de  Abumlish  to  come  an 
present  him  wid  a  hemp  neck  tie." 

"All  these  Northern   traitors   are  cowards,"  said  Dora.    * 
"I   only  wish   they  had  to   endure   the  sufferings  of  the 
Union  men  of  the  South." 

"  'Spects,  Miss  Dory,  if  dey  had  dem  'to  ondergo  dey'd 
git  most  ob  de  secessh  bleech'd  out  ob  'em  and  come  out 
what  dey  calls  Abumlish." 

"Yes,  I'll  venture  anything  they  would." 
Dinner  over,  Dick  returned  to  his  work,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Clinton  heard  George  read  the  paper,  end  Dora  occupied 
herself  in  replying  to  her  cousin  Louie's  letter,  though 
with  very  little  hope-  that  Louie  would  ever  see  a  line  of 
her  answer. 

The  time  for  mustering  George's  company  into  the  ser- 
vice had  been  considerably  prolonged,  and  George,  with 
most  of  his  comrades,  began  to  feel  no  small  degree  of 
anxiety  about  getting  off  to  war.  The  Tennessee  letter 
had  greatly  heightened  his  anxiety,  and  he  was  really 
5 


66  THE   TEST   OF    LOYALTY. 

'•  spoiling  for  a  fight."  Heavily,  indeed,  did  the  time  hang 
upon  his  hands.  Every  minute  seemed  an  hour  in  dura- 
tion, and  every  day  an  age. 

Finally,  the  evening  before  the  day  his  captain  had  told 
him  the  company  would  be  mustered  in,  he  received  intel- 
ligence that  his  presence  was  demanded  at  company  quar- 
ters early  next  morning. 

With  what  untold  rapture  did  he  recieve  this  glad  news. 
The  long  period  of  anxious  expectation  was  now  broken, 
and  George's  highest  earthly  desire  was  to  be  gratified. 
Promptly  on  the  morning  of  the  day  appointed  he  ap- 
peared at  the  place  designated  by  the  captain,  and  with 
his  entire  company  was  sworn  in. 

On  the  day  following,  the  boys  received  their  arms  and 
uniforms,  and  from  that  period  forward,  with  the  other 
companies  composing  their  regiment,  were  drilled  con- 
stantly in  the  manual  of  arms  and  in  field  movements.  Du- 
ring this  period,  George  was  frequently  visited  by  his 
friends  from  the  country,  and  he  was  delighted  to  find  that 
his  mother  had  become  an  ardent  advocate  of  a  vigorous 
war  policy. 

"George,"  said  she,  in  talking  to  him  one  day,  "I  hate 
to  give  you  up,  of  course,  as  any  mother  would,  but  I'm 
proud  to  have  you  go  an  defend  your  Goverment.  The 
war's  here,  an  can't  be  helped;  the  best  men  in  the  South  's 
got  to  die  at  the  hands  of  nigger  worshippers.  I  tell  you, 
I've  got  my  eyes  open.  There  aint  but  one  way  to  git 
peace,  an  that's  to  whip  the  rebels  an  hang  the  leadin 
secesh;  an  as  for  slavery  I  don't  care  much  what  becomes 
of  it.  "When  you  git  into  battle,  I  want  you  to  show  the 
grit  o'  your  mother,  now  mind  that." 

Finally  the  regiment  to  which  George  belonged  was  or- 
dered to  Western  Virorinia.     This  was  not  the  direction  in 


THE   TEST   OF   LOYALTY.  67 

which  he  wished  most  to  go;  but  still  it  was  better  than  to 
remain  inactive,  out  of  the  reach  of  danger. 

"Anywhere  to  fight  rebels,"  said  he  upon  hearing  the 
news,  tossing  up  his  hat,  and  cheering  the  stars  and 
stripes. 

Eemembering  that  his  parents  and  sister  would  never 
feel  satisfied  if  they  were  not  allowed  to  see  him  off,  he 
sent  word  to  them  by  one  of  his  father's  neighbors,  of  the 
intended  movement,  and  that  his  regiment  would  march 
that  very  day.  In  less  than  two  hours  he  was  visited  by 
his  father's  entire  family — Dick  and  all. 

"Well,  George,  you  go  to-day,  do  you?" 

"Yes,  Father,  and  I  am  glad  of  it,"  answered  George, 
spiritedly. 

"Where  do  you  go?"  asked  Dora, 

"To  Western  Virginia.  I  would  rather  have  gone  to 
Tennessee;  but  you  know  soldiers  have  bo  choice — mus' 
go  where  they  are  ordered;  and  I  would  much  rather  go 
to  Virginia  than  stay  here.     Anywhere  to  fight." 

"But  is  no  troops  to  be  sent  to  Tennessee?"  anxiously 
inquired  Mrs.  Clinton.  "Is  the  poor  Union  men  of  that 
State  jist  to  be  butehered,  an  their  families  robbed  of 
house  an  home,  without  even  knowin  they  have  any  friends 
that  would  help  them?" 

"We  must  be  patient,  mother,"  answered  George.  "  The 
Government  will  undoubtedly  do  the  best  it  can  for  Eastern 
Tennessee.  But  there  are  many  difficulties  with  which  to 
contend  before  that  region  can  be  reached.  It  is,  doubtless, 
all  for  the  best.  Let  us  pray  God  to  protect  our  friends 
until  we  can  rescue  them." 

"Yes,  de  Lord's  bery  good;  but  I  hab  allers  noticed  dat 
he  be  gin'elly  on  de  side  ob  dem  what  hab  do  most  guns 


68  THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY 


an  do  de  best  shootin,"  said  Dick,  rolling  up  liis  big  eyes, 
and  looking  exceeding  wise. 

"There,  Father,  we  are  ordered  to  fall  in — I  must  be 
off." 

The  regiment  now  formed  and  marched  to  the  railroad 
depot,  followed  by  a  host  of  friends  and  spectators. 

This  was  the  fifth  Hoosier  regiment  sent  to  the  South, 
and  the  interest  manifested  in  behalf  of  the  boys  was  in- 
tense. From  the  time  they  left  their  barracks  until  they 
reached  the  depot,  the  citizen  escort  increased  until  it 
numbered  its  thousands.  Arrived  at  the  depot,  a  scene 
pas-sing  all  human  description,  ensued.  The  hurrying  to 
and  fro  of  officers;  the  rush  of  anxious  relatives  to  speak 
a  farewell  word  of  encouragement — obtain  a  last  shake 
hands  and  a  last  kiss,  presented  a  spectacle  only  to  be  con- 
ceived of  by  those  who  have  witnessed  such  sights. 

After  forcing  his  way  through  packed  crowds  of  soldiers 
and  citizens,  George  finally  reached  his  friends,  who  were 
awaiting  his  appearance  with  as  much  anxiety  as  if  he  had 
been  long  absent.  But  a  few  moments'  were  allowed  for 
parting  injunctions,  promises,  and  well-wishes. 

"George,  you  must  be  obedient  to  your  officers,  and 
faithful  in  the  performance  of  your  duty,"  said  Mr.  Clin- 
ton, shaking  George's  hand  warmly.  "Only  be  as  true  to 
your  country  as  you  have  been  to  me,  and  all  will  be 
well." 

"I'll  try,  Father." 

"Kemember  your  sister,  brother,"  cried  Dora,  taking 
George's  hand  and  imprinting  a  warm  kiss  upon  his  lips, 
while  her  eyes  glistened  with  tears,  and  her  whole  counte- 
nance beamed  with  the  light  of  that  pure,  disinterested 
affec-tion,  only  known  to  the  sister. 

"Here,  George,  take  this,  and    don't  forgit    to  read  it 


THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY.  69 

often.  It  will  be  a  light  to  you  when  your  pathway  is 
dark,  and  a  comfort  when  you  are  down-hearted.  It  will 
lam  you  how  to  keep  out  o'  the  way  o'  temptation,  an  be 
happy,"  said  Mrs.  Clinton,  presenting  her  son  with  that 
holiest  of  a  mother's  gift's — a  bible. 

George  embraced  her,  and  at  the  call  of  his  captain  took 
his  seat  hurriedly  in  the  train. 

"All  ready!"  cried  the  conductor,  signalling  the  engi- 
neer to  start. 

Three  or  four  piercing  screams  from  the  locomotive 
whistle  and  the  long  train,  freighted  with  the  dearest  hopes 
of  Indiana  fathers,  mothers,  wives,  and  sisters,  moved 
slowly  onward. 

Every  car  window  was  filled  with  projecting  heads, 
while  hats  and  handkerchiefs  innumerable  were  waving 
from  the  train,  and  from  the  multitude  below,  and  the 
very  heavens  were  echoing  the  enthusiastic  cheers  of  the 
loyal  sons  of  the  West.  Eanged  along  the  sides  of  the 
railroad  track,  were  those  who  felt  the  deepest  interest  in 
the  welfare  of  the  departing  lieroes,  and  from  whose  eyes 
gleamed  those  gems  of  affection  more  precious  to  the  sol- 
dier than  pearls,  and  more  to  be  prized  than  the  richest 
gold.  Down  many  "a  furrowed  and  many  a  rosy  cheek, 
trickled  the  tears  of  sorrow  mingled  with  patriotism,  and 
from  many  a  fervent  soul  went  up  the  silent  though  earnest 
prayer  of  deep  solicitude. 

Many  were  the  sighs  and  anxious  looks  that  followed 
the  train,  as  with  constantly  increasing  speed  it  moved 
toward  its  destination ;  and  sad  were  the  hearts  of  hundreds 
as  they  turned  their  faces  homeward,  to  find  vacancies  in 
the  family  circle,  perhaps  never  to  be  refilled.  In  the  eve- 
ning  after    the    departure  of  the    regiment,  we    find    the 


70  THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY. 

Clinton   family   seriously   talking  over   the  events   of  the 
past  week. 

"What  an  awful  condition  the  country's  in,"  said  Mrs. 
Clinton.     '-It  looks  to  me  we're  all  tore  to  pieces." 

''Yes,  wife,"  responded  Mr.  Clinton,  '"we  are  truly  in  a 
bad  condition;  but  we  of  the  North  know  very  little  of 
the  evils  of  war,  yet.  Think  of  what  the  people  are  suf- 
fering in  East  Tennessee." 

"Oh,  Father!"  cried  Dora,  "don't  mention  East  Tennes- 
see. The  thought  of  what  our  friends  may  be  suffering 
fills  me  with  horror.  Ere  this,  uncle  may  have  been  hung, 
and  his  poor  family  reduced  to  beggary." 

"Oh!  its  awful!"  cried  Mrs.  Clinton.  "But  John  True- 
man's  a  man,  an  his  wife's  a  woman,  if  she  has  allers  been 
use  to  niggers.  I  tell  you,  they'll  die  like  heroes,  every 
one  on  'em,  before  they'll  submit  to  the  secesh.  One  thing 
that  consoles  me  in  this  tr;5^in  hour,  is  to  know  that  none 
o'  my  kin  aint  cowards.'' 

"How  many  niggas  has  Massa  Trueman  got?"  inquired 
Dick,  in  a  manner  which  indicated  that  a  new  idea  had 
struck  him. 

"I  believe  he  had  a  hundred,"  replied  Mr.  Clinton. 

"Den  I  'spects  dey  he'p  de  family  considerable  much 
when  de  danger  come,  if  massa's  allers  been  good  to  dem." 

"TTell,  he  was  the  best  man  in  the  world  to  his  slaves," 
said  Dora. 

"Oh,  pshaw!"  exclaimed  Mrs.  Clinton,  looking  very  in- 
credulous; "I  don't  believe  niggers  has  got  pluck  enough 
to  fight  wo'th  a  cent." 

"Don't  fool  you'se'f^  missus.  I  tell  you  I's  seen  niggas 
do  de  biggest  kind  o'  foughtin,  in  what  Massa  Venom  calls 
cases  o'  'mergancy.  Niggas  can  fight  wid  dar  teef  an 
finger  nails,  an  make  batterin  rams  ob  dar  heads.     Wy,  I 


THE   TEST    OF   LOYALTY.  71 

seed  a  nigga  onet  but  a  lioie  in  de  biggest  kind  ob  a  cbeese 
wid  his  head.  No,  missus,  dars  lots  o'  niggas  'ell  fight. 
I  heah  some  ob  'em  'bout  town  dis  mo'nin  sayin  dey'd  like 
to  hab  a  chance  at  secesh,  an  I  shouldn't  be  'sprised  if  dey 
hab  dat  chance  one  ob  dese  days,  an  den  dey'U  show  you 
'bout  de  fightin." 

"Oh,  pshaw!  Dick!"  said  Mr.  Clinton,  "you  needn't  be 
tineasy  about  negroes  ever  having  to  fight  in  this  war. 
This  is  a  white  man's  war." 

"Yes'  massa;  but  if  de  white   mans  gits    killed    ofi",  a 
whole-  heap  ob   ^em,  an  dies,   lots  ob   'em,  wid  de  yaller 
fever  in  de  Souf,  Massa  Linkum  '11  be  mighty  apt  to  con 
sent  foh  niggas  to  he'p  him  out  ob  de  scrape.     Any  how, 
dats  dis  chile's  'pinion." 

"Oh,  we  will  have  the  war  closed  before  the  yellow  fever 
season,  Dick." 

"I's  not  so  sure  'bout  dat,  massa.  Dem  Sudderners '11 
fight  putty  stubbo'n,  an  dey  '11  git  a  good  many  ob  dar 
niggas  to  he'p  dem." 

"Well,  ole  man,  les  go  to  bed.  I'm  completely  tuckered 
out  with  the  day's  labor  an  excitement." 

"Enough  said." 

And  Mr.  Clinton  had  Dora  to  bring  him  the  old  family 
Bible,  and  after  reading  a  chapter,  humbly  and  fervently 
addressed  the  Throne  of  Grace. 

After  the  evenings  service,  the  family  retired,  filled  with 
sadness  and  anxiety.  George  was  gone,  perhaps  never  to 
return,  and  the  Tennessee  relatives  were,  perhaps,  under- 
going tortures  of  which  no  just  conception  could  be 
formed.  Dreams  of  the  most  frightful  character  disturbed 
the  Clintons  during  the  entire  night. 


CHAPTER    IV 


A   PRISONER  OF   Tp^'AR, 

"0,  Father,  do  you  ttink  you'll  ever  get  well  in  this 
gloomy,  filthy  place?"  asked  the  affectionate  Louie  True- 
man  of  her  fath^,  as  she  took  her  seat  on  the  damp  earth 
by  his  side,  and  pillowed  his  aching  head  in  her  lap, 

"Ah!  daughter,  I  have  very  little  hope  of  re.covering  if 
I  have  to  remain  here.  But  your  mother  told  me  a  mo- 
ment ago,  when  she  left  me,  that  she  would  see  the  rebel 
commander  of  the  post,  and  do  her  utmost  to  obtain  per- 
mission to  take  me  home." 

"Oh!  has  she  gone  to  try  that?  May  God  in  his  mercy 
give  her  success.  0,  Father,  if  we  can  only  get  you  out 
of  this  dismal  place,  and  have  you  at  home,  we  can  soon 
have  you  up  again. 

"But  then,  will  they  let  Dr.  Sharp  continue  to  wait  on 
you  there,  as  he  has  done  here?  For,  if  he  has  turned  to 
be  a  secessionist,  he  is  very  kind  and  attentive  to  you;  and 
he  is  such  a  good  doctor  that  I  want  him  to  remain  with 
you." 

"Ah,  Louie,  you  need  not  think  the  doctor  has  turned 
out  a  real  secessionist.  He  is  only  playing  'sharp'  on  the 
rebels  for  the  present,  in  order  to  save  his  family  and  pro- 
perty. If  Federal  troops  should  ever  occupy  this  town, 
you  will  see  the   doctor  as  jrood  a  L'nion  man  as  he  ever 

(72) 


THE   TEST   OF   LOYALTY.  73 

was.  But  keep  mum.  He  has  gone  with  your  mother  to 
assist  her  in  procuring  my  release." 

"Oh!   Father;   do  you  think  they  will  succeed?" 

"I  hope  so,  daughter." 

A  ray  of  hope  penetrated  Louie's  hitherto  gloomy  and 
despairing  soul,  and  reflecting  outward,  lighted  up  her 
eye,  which  illuminrcted  her  every  feature,  imparting  to  her 
naturally  handsome  face  an  expression  which  would  have 
filled  the  most  obdurate  heart  with  thrillino;  emotions. 

Bending  over  her  father's  blanched  countenance,  she 
tenderly  stroked  his  forehead  and  cheered  his  wearied 
spirit  by  sweet,  comforting  words,  and  a  smile,  the  life-in- 
spiring effects  of  which  was  only  increased  by  those  dew 
drops  of  affection  which  stood  upon  her  soul's  windows. 

The  prospect  of  taking  her  father  out  of  a  dungeon 
which  the  light  of  day  never  reached,  and  of  surrounding 
hira  with  the  genial  influences  of  home,  lifted  a  cold  weight 
from  Louie's  heart,  which  had  long  depressed  and  chilled 
her  feelings. 

How  anxiously  did  she  await  the  return  of  her  mother 
and  the  doctor;  how  earnest  were  her  desires  that  the  mis- 
sion of  mercy  might  succeed. 

After  thus  waiting  for  a  considerable  space  of  time,  du- 
ring which  every  minute  seemed  an  age,  her  attention  was 
suddenly  attracted  by  the  sound  of  steps  and  voices  at  the 
prison  door.  0,  how  her  heart  fluttered  as  she  awaited 
the  entrance;  how  rapidly  did  sunshine  and  clouds  succeed 
each  other  in  the  chamber  of  her  soul,  as  the  turnkey  threw 
back  the.  great  iron  bolt  and  the  massive  door  creaked  on 
its  hinges. 

"Why,  Louie!  here  so  early?  I  had  not  expected  you 
so  soon,"  exclaimed  Mrs.  Trueman,  affectionately. 

^' Yes,  mother.     I  supposed  you  would  be  worn  out  with 


74  THE   TEST   OF    LOYALTY. 

last  night's  labor,  and  could  not  be  relieved  too   soon/' 

"Why,  Louie!  good  morning;  glad  to  sec  you,  indeed; 
have  good  news  to  tell  you,"  said  the  good-natured  little 
Dr.  Sharp,  advancing,  and  extending  his  hand. 

"Good  news!  Oh!  what  is  it,  doctor?''  nervously  in- 
quired Louie. 

"Why,  your  father  will  soon  be  out  of  here  and  at  home 
again." 

"  Is  that  it?     The  Lord  be  praised !" 

"Yes,  daughter,  that  is  it,"  assuringly  replied  Mrs. 
Trueman.  "I  and  the  doctor  have  obtained  leave  to  take 
your  father  where  we  may  hope  to  do  something  for  him." 

"God  bless  you,  dear  mother!  and  how  much  do  we  owe 
to  the  good  doctS-?" 

And  Louie  gently  removed  her  father's  head  from  her 
lap,  and  running  to  them,  embraced  both  her  mother  and 
the  doctor,  while  tears  of  joy  rolled  in  quick  succession 
down  her  pale  cheeks.  In  the  meantime  Mr.  Trueman, 
who  had  lain  for  days  in  an  utterly  helpless  condition, 
raised  himself  up,  and  supporting  his  body  on  his  left 
elbow,  ejaculated:  "Thank  God!  Oh,  bless  my  wife! 
Bless  the  doctor !  I  shall  see  light  again.  Oh !  let  me  go 
soon!" 

"You  sliall  go  soon,  my  dear,"  replied  Mrs.  Trueman, 
flying  to  her  husband,  and  easing  him  back  upon  his  pallet, 
"but  you  must  not  allow  this  unexpected  good  fortune  to 
excite  you  to  imprudence.  Remember,  dear,  you  are 
weak." 

And  she  smoothed  back  the  hair  from  his  forehead,  and 
kissed  him  tenderly. 

Louie  and  the  doctor  now  approached  Mr.  Trueman, 
each  taking  one  of  his  hands,  while  the  faithful  wife  still 
sat  ben-ding  over  him,  smoothing  his  pale  forehead,  and  as- 


THE   TEST   OF   LOYALTY.  75 

suring  liim  that  lie  should  soon  be  removed  from  that  loath- 
some spot. 

The  turnkey  remained  at  the  cell  door  contemplating  the 
scene  within,  with  feelings  altogether  new  to  him. 

"Louie,  did  you  come  in  the  carriage?"  inquired  Mrs. 
Trueman. 

"Yes,  mother." 

"Did  Ned  come  with  you?*' 

"Yes." 

"Where  is  Ned?" 

"He's  up  near  the  public  square  minding  the  horse. 
Shall  I  go  for  him?" 

"Yes,  right  away,  daughter;  and  have  him  bring  the 
carriage  here  immediately." 

Louie  threw  on  her  shaker,  tripped  out  of  the  jail, 
and  proceeded  with  delighted  haste  to  the  spot  where  she 
had  left  Ned  with  the  carriage,  none  the  less  happy  to 
know  that  she  was  to  break  the  glad  news  of  her  father's 
release  to  his  most  faithful  servant.  Joy  is  ever  diffusive, 
and  few,  indeed,  are  the  persons  who  do  not  increase  their 
stock  of  happiness  by  sharing  it  with  others. 

"I  wonder  what  makes  Miss  Louie  in  sich  a  big  hurry? 
Sumpin  must  be  up,"  muttered  Ned  to  himself,  as  Louie 
approached  him. 

"Oh,  Ned!"  cried  Louie,  as  she  came  up  almost  out  of 
breath.     "I   have    the    best   news   to  tell    you,  you  ever 

heard." 

"What  dat.  Miss  Louie?"  asked  Ned,  while  a  broad 
o-rin  displayed  his  magnificent  double  row  of  ivory,  and 
his  eyes  stood  out  so  plumply  as  to  almost  show  the  whites 
clear  of  the  orbits. 

"Why,  father  is  released  from  jail,  and  is  going  home 
with  us." 


76  THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY. 

"Now,  Miss  Louie,  is  you  jokin,  or  in  lia'd  yea'nest?" 

"In  earnest,  of  course.  And  mother  wants  you  to 
take  the  carriage  right  down  to  the  jail,  and  take  father 
home." 

"Better  blebe  dis  nigga  do  dat  in  de  biggest  hurry  he 
cber  done  anything." 

And  in  less  than  it  takes  us  to  tell  it,  Xed  turned  the 
carriage,  helped  Louie  in,  and  was  whirling  on'  his  way  to 
where  his  wounded  master  lay.  So  eager  was  he  to  see 
Mr.  Trueman  and  be  convinced  that  all  he  had  heard  was 
true,  that  he  took  time  to  ask  no  questions  until  he  reached 
the  prison.  Here  he  was  met  by  the  doctor,  just  as  he 
drew  up  in  front  of  the  entrance  to  the  jail. 

"Well,  Xed,"  said  the  doctor  jovially,  "what  do  you 
think  of  your  master's  getting  back  home  to  you  again?" 

"Thinks  powe'ful  well  ob  'era,  massa;  but  I'&feard  dars 
some  humbug  'bout  dis  ycr  business.  Am  massa  r'aly 
free?" 

"Free  to  go  home.  Ned.  There's  no  humbug  about 
that:  but  I  expect  he'll  be  guarded  there  as  a  prisoner, 
still." 

"Have  to  be  guarded!"  asked  Louie,  in  a  tone  of  sur- 
prise. 

"Yes,  of  course.  He  is  still  a  prisoner  of  war  to  the 
Confederate  States,  and  will  be  treated  as  such  until  some 
new  arrancrement  is  made." 

"Well,"  said  Louie,  "I  supposed  he  was  still  a  prisoner, 
but  did  not  think  of  the  necessity  of  a  guard.  However, 
we  can't  have  everything  just  as  we  wish  it,  always,  and  I 
reckon  we  may  be  glad  that  we  have  obtained  as  much 
favor  as  we  have." 

"Of  course  you  may,  hoping  in  the  meantime  for  better 


THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY.  77 

tilings  in  the  future,"  responded  tlie  doctor,  winking  very 
significantly. 

Louie  was  well  acquainted  witli  Dr.  Sharp,  had  long 
been  convinced  that  he  was  not  very  inappropriately 
named,  and  hence  concluded  that  there  was  a  volume  of 
meaning  in  the  words,  "hoping,  in  the  meantime,  for  bet- 
ter things  in  the  future,"  accompanied  by  the  doctor's 
peculiar  wink.  She  therefore  said  nothing  further,  touch- 
ing her  father's  condition,  but  followed  the  doctor,  who  now 
led  the  way  to  the  prisoner's  cell. 

Ned  was,  of  course,  backward  as  slaves  generally  are, 
but  took  good-  care  to  leave  very  little  space  between  him- 
self and  the  other  members  of  the  party  who  preceded 
him  to  his  master's  place  of  confinement. 

"Well,  here  we  are,  mother,  ready  to  proceed,"  Louie 
exclaimed,  entering  the  cell,  and  going  directly  up  to  her 
father. 

"Why,  Ned,  my  boy!  how  are  you?  It  has  been  some 
time  since  I  saw  you,"  said  Mr.  Trueman. 

"Why,  massa!  am  dat  your  bery  se'f?  I  shouldn't 
a  know'd  you,  only  by  de  voice;  you's  so  powe'fully 
changed.  Why,  massa,  you's  all  bleeched  as  white  as  a 
linen  shirt." 

"Yes,  Ned  ;  staying  here  as  long  as  I  have  would  bleach 
a  nigger,  I  believe." 

"'Spects  dats  so,  massa;  but  you  know  we  must  'hope 
for  better  things  in  de  futer,'  "  replied  Ned,  trying  to  copy 
the  highly  significant  language  of  Dr.  Sharp. 

"Unusually  philosophic  to-day,  Ned,"  said  Mr.  True- 
man,  smiling. 

"Well,  let  us  proceed,"  said  Mrs.  Trueman.  "I'm  for 
business." 

Mr.  Trueman  was  now  carefully  carried  to  his  carriage, 


78  THE   TEST   OF    LOYALTY. 

and  the  doctor  accompanying  them,  the  family  proceeded 
home,  attended  by  two  Confederate  guards. 

Trueman,  upon  once  more  emerging  into  the  light  of 
day,  experienced  a  degree  of  rapture  only  known  to  those 
who  have  been  deprived  of  it  as  he  had.  In  Methodistic 
phrase,  he  felt  like  shouting;  but  the  peculiar  character  of 
the  surroundings  and  his  own  weakness,  prevented  any 
such  outward  demonstration  of  joy.  He,  as  yet,  had  little 
hope  of  escaping  the  common  doom  of  Eastern  Tennessee 
patriots;  but  the  certainty  of  again  being  at  home,  sur- 
rounded by  his  family,  where  he  could,  at  least  for  a  sea- 
son, breathe  a  pure  and  buoyant  atmosphere,  was  so  much 
better  than  he  had  previously  expected,  that  he  really  felt 
he  had  cause  to  rejoice. 

Arrived  at  home,  he  was  carried  into  his  room  and  laid 
on  a  soft,  downy  bed,  such  as  he  had  always  been  accus- 
tomed to  prior  to  his  imprisonment.  Instantly  Jennie 
came  to  his  bedside,  and  throwing  her  soft,  white  arms 
round  his  neck,  cried: 

"Oj  Father!  are  you  with  us  once  more?"  and  bedewed 
his  pillow  with  tears. 

Soon  the  glad  intelligence  of  his  arrival  reached  the 
ears  of  the  slaves,  and  they  crowded  into  the  room  where 
he  lay,  exclaiming: 

"Oh,  massa!  am  you  actelly  on  dis  plantation  agin? 
Glory  be  to  de  Lord !  We  pray  for  you  all  de  time,  massa." 
And  great  tears  of  joy  rolled  down  many  an  ebony  cheek. 
So  touching  was  this  scene  that  even  the  hardened  Confed- 
erate guards  could  not  control  their  feelings,  and  the  mois- 
ture of  their  eyes  showed  that  the  searing  influence  of 
treason  had  not  yet  wholly  dried  up  the  wells  of  their 
sympathies. 

Everything  within   the   room   where   Trueman  lay  was 


THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY.  79 

clothed  with  new  charms  to  him.  The  bedstead  on  which 
he  reposed,  the  chairs,  tables,  etc.,  ranged  around,  the 
window  blinds  and  casements,  seemed  possessed  of  rare 
beauties;  and  many  little  things  scarcely  noticed  by  him  in 
former  days,  now  assumed  the  most  attractive  forms,  and 
presented  themselves  to  his  mind  as  matters  of  peculiar 
interest. 

How  true  it  is  that  we  never  know  how  to  value  home 
until  we  have  been  deprived  of  it.  To  have  been  absent 
on  ordinary  business  five  years  would  not  have  endeared 
Trueman's  home  to  him  half  so  much  as  one  day  spent  in 
the  loathsome  rebel  prison  at  Knoxville- 


CHAPTER  V. 


DR.    SHARP  S    SCHEME — NED  S    SOLILOQUY. 

AVonderful  indeed  were  the  cheering  effects  of  home  and 
its  surroundings  upon  Trueman's  wound,  and  emaciated 
body.  Instead  of  the  fceted  air  of  the  dungeon,  he  now 
inhaled  the  invigorating  atmosphere  coming  from  the 
mountains;  and  instead  of  wilting  under  the  effects  of  mid- 
night gloom,  he  enjoyed  the  soul-reviving  influence  of  the 
light  of  day  and  the  sunshine  of  the  family  circle,  com- 
bined. 

Day  by  day  he  grew  stronger,  and  his  wound  healed 
rapidly.  But  as  he  recovered  his  strength,  the  difficulties 
with  which  he  and  hjs  family  were  surrounded,  became  the 
more  appreciable.  He  had  committed  the  unpardonable 
sin,  in  the  estimation  of  rebels.  He  had  proven  to  seces- 
sionists that  he  loved  the  Government  of  his  fathers  more 
than  he  did  the  South.  He  had  taken  up  arms  to  defy 
the  Confederate  Government,  and  had  thus  forfeited  aii 
claims  to  its  protection.  He  was  now  a  prisoner  of  war 
to  the  South,  with  no  hope  of  ever  being  honorably  re- 
leased, except  by  death. 

His  family  was  by  no  means  likely  to  be   cared  for  and 

protected  in  case  he  should  be  taken  from  it;  but  on  the 

other  hand,  had  before   it  every  prospect  of  disgrace  and 

misery  indescribable.     He  could  obtain  his  release  and  be 

(80) 


THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY.  81 

restored  fully  to  his  family  only  upon  one  condition,  viz: 
by  taking  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  Southern  Confed- 
eracy; and  this  he  could  no  more  think  of  doing  than  he 
could  contemplate  suicide.  To  escape  seemed  impossible, 
helpless  as  he  was,  and  guarded  on  all  sides  by  a  most  vig- 
ilant enemy. 

Albert  could  not  be  heard  from,  and  the  chances  were 
that  he  never  would  be.  No  available  assistance  appeared 
in  any  direction,  and  the  future  was  as  gloomy  to  contem- 
plate as  the  valley  and  the  shadow  of  death. 

Eeflections  of  this  character  were  occupying  Trueman's 
mind  on  the-  afternoon  of  one  of  those  melancholy  days 
which  never  witness  the  light  of  the  sun,  and  whose  rare, 
humid  atmosphere  depresses  the  most  buoyant  souls,  when 
Dr.  Sharp,  with  his  face  all  aglow  with  good  humor,  and 
his  little  round  gray  eyes  twinkling  with  the  expression  of 
some  well-matured  scheme,  entered  the  room. 

''Good  evening,  Mr.  Trueman." 

"Good  evening,  Doctor.     Sit  down  and  try  your  hand 
at  driving  the  blues   away  from   me,"  said  Mr.  Trueman, 
drawing  a  long  breath,  and  looking  anxiously  at  the  doc 
tor. 

'•What!  got  the  blues  again!  I  believe  they  have  as- 
sumed the  chronic  form  with  you.  However,  I  don't 
know  that  one  can  blame  you  much,  considering  the 
scrapes  you  get  into." 

"  Never  mind  the  scrapes,  but  prescribe  at  once,  as  I 
have  requested." 

''Of  course  111  prescribe,  Trueman;  and  I  am  pretty 
sur€  the  treatment  will  succeed,"  said  the  doctor,  with  one 
of  those  peculiar  winks  of  his  which  always  meant  some- 
thing. 

"Then  let's  have  it  immediately." 
6 


82  THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY. 

*'Well,  before  I  proceed,  tell  us  how  the  arm  and  shoul- 
der are,  to-day,  and "— ;drawing  close  up  to  Trueman's 
Bide,  and  whispering, — "how  near  the  guards  are." 

"  The  arm  is  mending  rapidly,  and  the  guards  are  at  a 
respectful  distance,  picking  berries  with  the  niggers.  Go 
ahead  with  your  prescription,  doctor,  go  ahead." 

"Well,  the  prescription  is  this:  Get  away  from  here  as 
speedily  as  possible." 

^'Get  away!  AVhy,  what  do  you  mean?  How  can  you 
conceive  of  the  possibility  of  such  a  thing?" 

"Easily  enough,  sir;  easily  enough.  And  not  only  can 
I  conceive  of  it,  but  I  can  put  you  immediately  in  the  way 
to  do  it." 

"Do  you  mean  what*  you  say,  doctor,  or  are  you  just 
gassing  me  to-day,  as  you  generally  do  when  I  am  low- 
Bpirited?" 

"Mean  exactly  what  I  say,  sir,  and  am  ready  to  give  you 
the  most  convincing  proof  of  it,  if  you  will  only  be  as  ready 
to  adopt  my  plans  as  you  are  to  take  my  doses." 

"I  am  certainly  ready  to  adopt  anything  that  is  practi- 
cable." 

"Well,  now  hear  me,  and  when  I  am  through,  I  think 
you  '11  agree  that  my  scheme  is  practicable." 

"Doctor,  do  you  really  think  it  will  work?"  asked  True- 
man  hopefully,  after  listening  attentively  to  a  somewhat 
detailed  plan  of  escape. 

"Work!  Well,  see  if  I  don't  77iake  it  work.  Only  give 
me  a  little  time;  Mrs.  Trueman,  and  Ned,  and  I'll  do  it  as 
easy  as  I  ever  cured  a  bad  cold." 

No  one,  as  yet,  had  the  least  idea  that  Ned  knew  any- 
thing of  the  use  the  doctor  proposed  to  make  of  him;  but 
a  shrewd  darky  is  by  no  means  asleep  at  all  times  when 
his  eyes  are  shut;  and  the  mere  intervention  of  an  ordi- 


THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY.  83 

nary  door  will  not  always  prevent  his  hearing  what  may  be 
deemed  very  important  secrets,  especially  if  the  key-hole 
be  left  unstopped. 

Ned  had  for  several  days  noticed  what  he  regarded  as 
very  peculiar  movements  on  the  part  of  Dr.  Sharp,  and  on 
this  occasion  observing,  from  an  unseen  corner,  that  the 
doctor  not  only  closed  the  door  of  Trueman's  room,  as  he 
entered,  but  turned  .the  key,  his  African  curiosity  was 
roused  to  its  highest  pitch.  Stationing  himself  at  a  con- 
venient place  to  flank  the  key-hole,  he  improved  the  first 
opportunity  of  moving  up  and  occupying  a  "stragetic  posi- 
tion," planting  his  auditory  battery  in  the  advance. 

"Gory!  dat's  good!"  whispered  Ned  to  himself,  as  he 
heard  the  doctor  detailing  his  scheme  to  Trueman ;  "  Massa's 
gwine  to  git  out  o'  dis. 

"Um,  goody!  dats  better  yit.  Dis  chile's  to  'stinguish 
hisse'f  by  'scortin  massa  to  de  Norf.  Won't  dat  'ford 
splendiferous  chance  for  dis  nigga  to  'splay  his  'srategy?' 
Always  blebed  dis  chile  was  to  do  sumpin  oncommon,  ebber 
sense  Aunt  Cloo  tu'n  de  coflfee  grouns  on  his  fo'tune." 

And  Ned's  face  fairly  glistened  with  self-complaisance. 

"But  de  ques'n  am,  what  '11  massa  do  wid  Ned  when  he 
gits  to  de  Norf?  Niggas  is  free  when  dey  gits  ober  dar, 
dat's  a  fac;"  and  here.  Ned,  observing  that  the  conversa- 
tion between  the  doctor  and  his  master  was  drawing  to  a 
close,  retired  in  very  good  order  to  a  spot  where  he  might, 
with  impunity,  think  a  little  louder. 

"Yes,  dat  am  de  ques'n,"  soliloquised  Ned  again,  as  he 
seated  himself  on  a  large  stone  in  the  back  yard,  and 
turned  his  eyes  in  every  direction  to  see  if  the  coast  was 
clear.  "Ob  coa'se  Ned '11  besot  free;  an  dar  aint  nuj05n 
wrong  'bout  dat,  dat's  a  fac,  dough  I  likes  massa  powe'ful 
well. 


84c  THE    TEST    OF    LOTAI.TY. 

"An  den  if  dis  chile  cou'd  jis'  fix  'cm  up  some  how  to 
git  Lucy  ober  dar  wid  him,  an  setup  h©use-keepin  foh  his- 
se'f,  wouldn't  dat  be  some  style,  as  Massa  Albe't  used  to 
say?  Well,  dar  aint  nufl&n  like  'strategy,'  no  how,  an  T's 
good  at  dat.     So  jis'  wait  till  de  time  comes." 

Trueman's  confidence  being  now  fully  established  in  the 
doctor,  and  he  having  arrived  at  the  conclusion  at  which 
men  of  his  spirit  generally  arrive  when  similarly  situated, 
viz:  that  no  change  could  possibly  render  his  condition 
worse,  the  plan  of  escape  proposed  was  adopted  heartily, 
and  steps  immediately  taken  to  carry  it  out. 

Trueman's  only  great  regrets  were  that  he  could  not 
take  his  wife  and  daughters  with  him,  and  that  he  should 
be  obliged  to  part  forever  from  his  faithful  slaves;  for 
while  it  is  true  that  servants  are  often  devotedly  attached 
to  good  masters,  it  is  also  true  that  masters  are  as  fre- 
quently attached  to  good  slaves.  If  he  could  only  have 
taken  them  North,  and  freed  them,  he  would  have  been 
fully  satisfied,  but  this  was  not  possible.  He  endeavored 
to  console  himself,  however,  with  the  idea  that  they  could 
fare  no  better  in  his  presence  than  in  his  absence.  But 
mere  consolations  do  not  so  satisfy  such  minds  as  True- 
man's  as  to  ease  them.  The  trials  of  the  last  few  weeks 
had  been  rapidly  aholitionizing  him.  His  love  for  the 
Union  was  so  paramount  to  every  other  consideration,  that 
whatever  threatened  its  safety  he  would  have  destroyed, 
however  much  endeared  to  him;  and  it  had  been  clearly 
demonstrated  to  him  within  a  few  days,  that  slavery  and 
the  Union  could  no  longer  dwell  together  in  harmony. 
He  was  now  fully  prepared  to  make  any  sacrifice  which  his 
country  demanded  of  him,  and  the  mere  loss  of  his  slaves 
was  a  trifle  in  his  estimation,  were  it  only  possible  for  him 
to  give  them  their  freedom,  and  so  situate  them  as  to  in- 


THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY.  85 

sure  their  future  comfort.  But  tlie  idea  that  they  were 
not  only  to  remain  in  bondage,  but  to  be  confiscated  by 
Jeff.  Davis'  minions,  and  used  to  forward  the  rebellioH, 
was  anything  but  pleasant. 


CHAPTER    VI. 


THE    FUNERAL    OBSEQUIES. 

The  Trueman  residence  is  dressed  in  mourning  to-day. 
Slaves  move  about  the  premises,  through  the  halls  and 
rooms  of  the  house  with  eyes  downcast,  spirits  dejected, 
and  a  general  mien  not  out  of  keeping  with  the  sable  robes 
with  which  nature  supplied  them.  In  a  retired  room, 
darkened  by  close  drawn,  heavy  windowshades,  is  a  velvet- 
lined  coffin,  and  around  it  are  gathered  Mrs.  Trueman  and 
her  daughters,  dressed  in  deep  mour-ning,  sighing,  weeping, 
lamenting.  Outside  this  circle  are  gathered,  in  a  promis- 
cuous huddle,  the  house  servants,  male  and  female  ;  and 
the  incessant  application  of  tattered  bandqnas  and  table- 
worn  aprons  to  eyes  swollen  with  grief,  would  indicate  that 
those  humble  dependents  have  lost  their  chief  support. 

A  gentle  rap  is  heard  at  the  door  of  the  death  chamber, 
and,  entrance  being  granted,  in  steps  the  country  parson, 
with  a  train  of  curious  attendants.  His  habilliments,  his 
solemn  countenance  and  manner,  show  that  he  has  come  to 
perform  the  last  rites  over  the  body  of  the  dead.  lie 
opens  the  sacred  volume,  reads  an  appropriate  chapter, 
then  lines  and  sings  a  touching  funeral  hymn, — the  slaves 
following  in  strains  of  '-doleful  melody" — then  earnestly 
supplicates  a  throne  of  grace  in  behalf  of  the  mourners, 
whose  husband,  father  and  master  has  been  "cut  oflF  from 
86 


8T 

THE  TEST   OP   LOTALTY. 

*,,     lnnrl  for  the  hi"li  crime  of  supporting  a  wicked   op- 
'p'L So   S™nt  ia  its  unholy   persecutions   of  the 

""The' preliminaries  over,  the  parson  selects  and  reads  a 
JLe^e.,and.omit.^^^^^^^^^ 

Xur:;::  "rChT;;...  with  ahoutionists,  or,.. 


'secute  slavery. 


.;;  ::    ..y  of  manifesting  sorrow."  we  thin,    as  we 

Wted  darkies,  apparently  drinking  .n  every^    d  o    the 
sermon-if  sermon  we   may   call  it-seem  only        o 
the  more  and  sob  the  louder.  ^ 

The  minister  has  concluded,  and  Dr.  Sharp,  m  his  usual 
spr'g^tly,  tripping  manner,  protrudes  his  dumpy  for.  into 

"riZs  haste,"  he  whispers  to  the  parson^  '-The  hody 
i.  in  a  most  offensive  state  of  putresence,  and  it^is  not  pro- 
Itive^f  either  the  comfort  or  the  health  of  the  company 
to  keep  it  above  ground  much  longer.  _ 

a  Yes"  sanctimoniously  nods  the  parson;  and  in  a  few 
.i„utes;  with  little  noise  but  much  bustle.  D.^arp  has 
appointed  the  pall-hearers,  and  the  head  of  J;^''/™^ 
In  =  funeral  train  emerges  from  the  house  and  leads  the 
i;  t  ward  the  country  graveyard,  ^pon  coming  o>^, 
The  pall-bearers  and  mourners  are  confronted  by  a  host  of 
eUizrns  and  soldiers,  who,  so  soon  as  the  coffin  passes  the 


88  THE    TEST    OP    LOYALTY.    * 

front   gate    and  enters   the   road   leading  to  the  burying- 
ground,  form  in  order  of  procession  in  the  rear. 

Is  it  possible  that  Trueman  can  have  so  many  friends, 
or  are  these  but  solemn  mockers?     Listen! 

'-John  Trueman  was  brave;  I've  seed  him  tried,"  mur- 
murs a  butternut-uniformed'  cavalier  in  the  ear  of  a  com- 
rade near  him.  "He  was  a  quick  turned,  ginerous  sort 
of  a  feller  as  ever  I  knowed,"  says  a  citizen  to  his  neigh- 
bor, as  the  train  moves  on. 

A  good  man's  friends  may  be  partially  alienated  from 
him  by  the  untoward  circumstances  of  a  social  or  a  politi- 
cal revolution,  but  they  can  never  be  wholly  severed  from 
him.  Trueman's  friends  were  those  who  had  tried  his 
worth,  and  although  they  felt — many  of  them — to  regret 
what  they  considered  his  errors  in  politics,  their  admiration 
of  him  as  a  man  h©d  only  been  modified,  not  changed  to 
hatred  by  those  conceived  errors.  Slowly,  solemnly  the 
procession,  composed  of  soldiers,  citizens  and  slaves,  pro- 
ceeds, and,  finally  arriving  at  the  cemetery,  the  cofl&n  is 
placed  by  the  side  of  a  newly  dug  grave,  and  the  parson, 
with  another  hymn  and  prayer,  cons-igns  the  ashes  of 
Trueman  to  their  last  resting  place.  The  coffin  is  lowered, 
three  or  four  stout  men  grasp,  each,  a  spade,  and  the  dull, 
leaden  sounds  of  the  heavy  clods  upon  the  boards  which 
cover  the  vault  fall  with  a  heart-chilling  weight  upon  our 
ears.  There  are  soul-depressing  sobs,  heart-piercing  cries 
to  be  heard  in  the  direction  of  the  closely  veiled  wife  and 
daughters;  there  are  convulsive  demonstrations  of  grief 
throughout  the  entire  crowd  of  African  attendants;  there 
are  gloomy  brows  to  be  seen  among  all  the  Confederate 
soldiers ;  there  are  tears  of  sorrow  glistening  from  many  a 
neighbor's  eye.  In  fact,  the  burial  scene  is  one  of  unusual 
sadness,  and  we  long  to  be  released  as  a  witness. 


THE    TEST   OF    LOYALTY. 


89 


The  last  shovel  full  of  dirt  is  packed  upon  the  sharply 
elevated  clay  mound,  and  the  throng  of  attendants  return 
home  at  will  and  v/ithout  order.  Every  one  seems  struck 
vrith  the  buoyancy  of  soul  exhibited  by  the  friends  of  the 
deceased.  Mrs.  Trucman's  movements  are  wonderfully 
elastic  as  she  mounts  the  step  of  her  carriage  and  takes  a 
seat  inside.  Louie,  notwithstanding  an  occasional  convul- 
sive sob,  converses  with  considerable  sprightliness,  while 
Jennie  may  even  be  seen,  occasionally,  timing  the  air  of 
some  familiar  ditty,  mentally  sung,  upon  the  floor  of  the 
vehicle  with  the  toe  of  her  gaiter.  It  is  the  soul  that 
sings  rather  than  the  voice,  and  if  we  could  draw  aside 
those  heavy  veils  we  might  see,  playing  upon  the  counte- 
nances of  the  wife  and  elder  daughter,  the  same  animating 
tune  which  sought  involuntary  egress  through  Jennie's 
foot. 

The  observer  is  puzzled.  Can  it  be  that  these  women 
have  become  so  calloused  by  unremitting  grief  that  the 
sorrow  occasioned  by  the  cleath  of  a  husband  and  father  is 
buried  with  his  ashes?  Or,  has  the  joy  over  the  rescue 
of  Trueman  from  an  ignoble  execution  by  an  honorable 
death  risen  superior  to  the  gloomy  despondency  which 
otherwise  would  overcast  the  mourners?  However  it  may 
be,  there  is  a  lightness  of  manner  and  cheerfulness  of  voice 
noticible  among  the  Truemans  on  their  return  from  the 
funeral,  widely  contrasting  with  the  sorrowing  manifesta- 
tions at  the  grave. 

The  sun  sinks  calmly  behind  a  gold  fringed  cloud  which 
skirts  the  western  horizon  as  the  Confederate  guards,  so 
long  Trueraan's  most  watchful  attendants,  take  their  leave, 
and  the  atmosphere  of  freedom  may  again  be  breathed  in 
the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  old  mansion. 


^^  THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY. 


A  half-filled  moon  moves  gracefully  up  the  clear,  starry 
sky  as  from  the  agloomed  slave  cabin  is  wafted  to  our  ears 
the  quaint  melody, 


'Ma£Ba's  in  de  cold,  cold  ground. 


CHAPTER  VII 


CORRESPONDENCE — ITS    EFFECTS. 

"What  strange  letters  father  writes  me,  now-a-Jays, 
said  George  Clinton  to  himself,  seating  himself  upon  the 
ground  in  a  West  Virginia  camp,  and  re-perusing  au 
epistle  just  received  from  home;  "says  here  he  thinks  I 
am  fighting  in  the  noblest  of  causes,  and  then  right  away 
intimates  to  me  that  he  greatly  doubts  the  ability  of  this 
Administration  to  conquer  the  rebellion;  wonder  if  Hard- 
head is  working  on  him  again  ;  must  say  I  don't  like  such 
letters;  almost  wish  father  would  quit  writing.  How  dif- 
ferent Dora  writes;  would  rather  read  one  of  her  month- 
old  letters  than  a  dozen  of  father's  freshest..  Dora  makes 
me  feel  like  fighting  the  whole  Southern  Confederacy, 
father  almost  puts  the  cowardly  chills  all  over  me.  Won- 
der if  he  knows  the  effect  of  such  letters  as  his  on  a  sol- 
dier? Believe  I'll  just  answer  him  right  now,  and  tell 
him  what  it  is." 

So  saying  George  produced  his  portfolio  and  penned  to 
his  father  the  following  very  pointed  reply: 

"Dear  Father:  Your's  is  at  hand;  am  glad  indeed 
to  hear  from  you,  but  sorry  you  'deal  me  so  much  cold  com- 
fort. I  think  if  you  had  to  climb  these  rocky,  barren  hills, 
and  crawl  through  the   bushes   and  briers   as   I  do,  after 

91 


92  THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY. 

the  Indian  plan,  you  wouldn't  think  much,  nor  care  much 
about  the  Administration,  just  so  the  rebellion  might  be 
put  down.  What  has  got  you  to  doubting  the  ability  of 
the  President?  Hasn't  he  done  about  all  that  any  man 
could  do  under  the  circumstances?  Don't  you  think  it  a 
pretty  hard  time,  anyhow,  to  be  President?  I  do.  Why, 
every  civilian  in  the  country  wants  to  tell  Lincoln  how  to 
carry  on  this  war.  The  land  literally  swarms  with  military 
advisers,  and  from  the  way  many  of  you  write,  I've  no 
idea  but  that  half  the  farmers  in  Indiana  could  end  this 
war  in  a  week  if  they  had  their  way  about  it.  You  don't 
seem  to  think  how  poorly  we  were  fixed  for  war  when  we 
began,  and  how  well  the  secesh  were  prepared,  on  account 
of  their  stealings.  Just  think  how  many  soldiers  had  to 
be  armed  and  equipped  in  a  little  time,  and  how  little 
ready  material  we  had  to  go  on. 

'•Yes,  it's  hard  to  be  President  now;  for  while  you  folks 
at  home  are  all  complaining  because  the  thing  is  not  being 
wound  'jp  quick  enough,  lots  of  the  soldiers  are  cursing 
the  Government  because  they' can't  have  every  nice  thing 
they  have  been  used  to  at  home,  hauled  round  to  them. 

"Now,  I  tell  you  this  country  has  got  to  get  used  to 
war.  The  thing  can't  be  done  in  a  day,  nor  a  week.  It 
may  take  years  yet,  but  I  reckon  you  "11  agree  that  the 
Government  is  worth  any  effort  to  save  it,  however  expen- 
sive. And  now,  father,  just  allow  me  to  drop  you  a  hint: 
if  we  can  afford  to  leave  home  and  endure  what  we  do  to 
save  the  country,  you  folks  at  home  can  surely  afford  to 
give  us  all  the  encouragement  in  your  power.  I  tell  you, 
it  makes  a  soldier  strong  to  tell  him  to  fight,  but  when  it 
comes  to  hinting  to  him  that  those  who  control  his  actions 
are  not  doing  for  the  best,  it  tends,  if  he  listens  to  it,  to 


THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY.  93 

take  all  the  fight  out  of  him.     I  hope  you  '11  thiok  of  these 
matters. 

'But  I  must  quit. 

"Ever  your  faithful 

"GrEORGE. 

"P.  S.— My  love  to  all  the  friends  of  the  Union.  Tell 
Dora  to  write.  ''Gr." 

During  his  entire  life,  George  had  never  said  or  written 
anything  to  his  father  which  partook  of  anything  like  the 
degree  of  independence  which  was  manifested  in  this  let- 
ter, and  it  was  by  no  means  pleasant  to  feel  it  his  duty  to 
do  so  now.  Several  sighs  and  a  trouble-expressing  con- 
traction of  the  brow,  accompanied  the  passage  of  this  epistle 
into  the  camp  mail  box.  Let  us  follow  it  to  its  destina- 
tion. 

It  is  a  delightful  summer  morning,  and  George's  father 
sits  in  his  accustomed  seat  on  the  old  porch,  running  his 
eyes  rather  hurriedly  over  a  page  of  letter  cap,  just  out  of 
the  envelope.  • 

"Rather  saucy,  that,  for  George,  I'll  declare,"  said  Mr. 
Clinton,  stopping  to  digest  a  paragraph,  and  looking  out 
regretfully  from  under  his  momentarily  elevated  spectacles, 
as  much  as  to  say,  "I  almost  wish  I  had  not  written  him 
what  I  did."  Resuming  the  letter,  he  read  it  eagerly  to 
the  close,  and  nervously  folding  and  re-encasing  it,  said: 

"Well,  I  must  say,  the  boy.talks  manfully.  I  know  he's 
honest;  never  would  be  the  boy  to  talk  to  me  that  way  but 
from  a  strong  conviction  of  duty.  And  there's  some  good 
sense  in  what  he  says.  It  is  a  bad  trme  to  be  President. 
Things  were  in  a  terribly  bad  fix  at  the  commencement  of 
this  war.  The  South  had  everything  and  the  Government 
had  nothing.     May  be  some  of  the  papers  I've  read,  and 


9-4  THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY. 

and  some  of  the  Democrats  I've  talked  to,  are  too  bitter 
toward  the  Administration;  not  a  good  idea,  always,  to 
form  a  fellow's  notions  too  soon;  well  to  be  careful,  or  one 
might  get  on  the  wrong  track;  rather  a  ticklish  time  to 
take  stock  in  politicians,  any  how;  never  was  disposed  to 
sympathize  with  the  rebellion ;  have  always  hated  the  very 
idea  of  it;  merely  thought  that  perhaps  the  present  Ad- 
ministration was  not  aiming  to  put  down  the  rebellion  so 
much  as  to  establish  some  of  its  pet  notions.  And  it 
really  does  seem  to  be  touched  with  abolition ;  reckon  its 
as  the  boy  says,  letters  like  my  last,  take  the  fight  out  of 
soldiers." 

Thus  sat  Mr.  Clinton,  revolving  in  his  mind  the  question 
of  propriety  in  relation  to  the  course  he  had  lately  pur- 
sued in  his  correspondence  with  George,  when  Dick,  re- 
turning from  an  errand  to  town,  threw  into  his  lap  a  letter 
directed  in  a  well-known  hand  writing,  and  post  marked 
'•Louisville,  Ky." 

"Why!  what  does  this  mean?"  exclaimed  he,  in  a  tone 
^f  agitated  surprise,  at  the  same  time  tearing  open  the 
envelope,  and  turning  hastily  to  the  signature.  "As  I 
live! — from  John  Trueman.  Well,  that's  ahead  of  any- 
thing yet;  made  sure  he  wns  dead.  Wife!  wife!  come 
here!" 

^'Oh,  I'm  too  busy,  darnin  your  socks,  to  come  jist  now," 
answered  the  old  lady,  rather  petulantly. 

"Never  mind  socks  now.  I  know  you  want  to  hear 
from  John  Trueman  as  badly  as  I  do." 

"From  John  Trueman!  Well,  I  reccon  I  do;"  and  Mrs. 
Clinton  measured  the  distance  from  where  she  sat  to  the 
porch  about  as  quickly  as  she  was  ever  known  to  do  it,  by 
no  means  prepared  to  see  a  letter  in  True  man's  own  hand 
writi¥ig,  but  excited  enough   in   the  supposition  that  some 


THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY.  95 

one  bad  arrived,  per  accident,  who  knew  and  could  tell 
sometliing  of  his  fate.  But  when  she  came  on  the  porch, 
and  found  that  Clinton  had  just  received  an  epistle  from 
lum,  dated  at  Louisville,  she  fairly  went  into  histerics. 

"Why,  ole  man,  what  does  it  mean?  I  thought  he  was 
hung  by  this  time,  or  dead  from  his  wound.  Well,  there's 
no  use  talkin  to  me  any  more  'bout  there  a  bein  no  speshul 
Providence;  for  shorely,  nuthin  short  of  a  meraclo  could 
a  saved  him.     Come,  read,  ole  man,  read!" 

Mr.  Clinton,  adjusting  his  spectacles,  proceeded: 

"Louisville, ,  1861.    . 

Dear  Brother  and  Sister  :  I  expect  this  will  take 
you  a  good  deal  like  an  unexpected  thunder-clap,  for  I 
have  no  idea  you  think  it  possible  for  me  to  yet  be  alive. 
But,  by  the  interposition  of  Divine  Providence,  I  am  still 
spared,  and  have  made  good  my  escape  from  the  very 
mouth  of  hell.  How  this  is,  I  cannot  now  say,  of  course, 
but  when  I  see  you  I  will  tell  you  all  about  it.  Meet  me 
on  the  18th,  at  the  Union  Depot,  upon  the  arrival  of  the 
morning  train.  I  would  come  right  on  but  for  some  little 
matters  I  have  to  arrange  here,  which  will  require  a  couple 
of  days.  Your  brother, 

John  Trueman. 

"Why,  father!  father!  what  does  this  mean?  A  let- 
ter from  uncle  John!  Can  such  a  thing  be  possible?" 
3ried  Dora,  dashing  on  to  the  porch,  from  her  toilet  room, 
with  hair  flying  in  all  directions,  and  a  countenance  indes'- 
cribably  expressive  of  the  agitation  to  which  she  had  been 
wrought  up  by  the  few  broken  sentences  she  had  caught 
from  her  father's  reading.  "Is  it  really  from  him?  Do 
let  me  see  it,  father;"  and  she  reached  and  received  the 
letter  from  her  father,  and  devoured  its  contents  in  far  less 


96  THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY. 

time  than  it  takes  us  to  tell  it.  "And  ke  will  be  here, 
himself,  will  he,  in  a  few  days?  Well,  this  is  indeed  most 
glorious;  have  an  idea  he  will  be  able  to  present  a  class  of 
arguments  against  the  rebellion  wlii-.h  will  completely  de- 
molish all  this  semi-seccsh  cant  we  hear  so  much  of  about 
here.  Oh,  won't  it  be  so  rich  to  have  him  get  hold  of 
Hardhead!  Ill  manage  for  that,  see  if  I  don't,"  said 
Dora,  snapping  her  fingers  and  dancing  away  with  an  air 
of  triumph  to  her  room. 

The  time  to  elapse  between  the  reception  of  this  epistle 
and  the  arrival  of  Trueman  was  short  in  fact,  but  tedious- 
ly long  to  the  Clintons.  His  letter  was  of  just  that  char- 
acter which  is  best  calculated  to  excite  the  human  curios- 
ity, and  every  member  of  the  Clinton  family  was  almost 
constantly  engaged,  during  this  interin],  in  manufacturing 
questions  of  every  kind  for  the  expected  coming. 

The  morning  of  the  18th  came,  and  with  it  John  True- 
man  to  Indianapolis.  His  relatives  were  in  anxious  wait- 
ing at  the  depot,  with  carriage  ready  to  convey  him  to 
their  residence. 

For  the  description  of  the  scene  which  occurred  upon 
the  meeting  of  Trueman  and  his  kin,  the  author  acknow- 
ledges the  lack  of  genius.  Sufl&ce  it  to  say,  that  Dora, 
being  the  most  sprightly,  reached  him  first  and  kissed  him 
warmly.  Mr.  Clinton  gave  him  a  real  Western  shake  of 
the  hand,  while  tears  of  joy  stood  in  his  eyes,  and  Mrs. 
Clinton  hugged  him,  and,  notwithstanding  the  nimblencss 
of  her  tongue,  was  unable  to  say  anything  but  "0.  John! 
0,  John!"  for  several  minutes. 

Trueman,  in  the  meantime,  was  not  a  little  moved  at  the 
afi"ectionate  reception,  and  really  felt  that  were  his  wiife 
and  children  with  him  he  would  consider  himself  as  having: 


THE   TEST    OF    LOYALTY.  97 

made  a  happy  exchange  of  wealth  on  the  one  hand  for 
liberty  and  safety  on  the  other. 

During  the  almost  frantic  manifestations  of  joy  conse- 
seqiient  upon  this  meeting,  and  standing  at  a  respectful 
distance,  contemplating  with  becoming  diffidence  and  pro- 
i'.und  interest  the  touching  scene  passing  before  him,  was 
the  heroic  Ned,  who,  until  addressed  by  his  master  with 
reference  to  the  baggage,  etc.,  etc.,  had  not  been  noticed 
by  the  Clintons. 

'=  Brought  a  boy  with  you,  ha?"  asked  Mr.  Clinton, 
looking  kindly  at  Ned. 

"Yes,"  replied  Trueman,  "I  hardly  see  how  I  could 
have  dispensed  with  him.  He  has  been,  indeed,  a  great 
help  to  me;  and  I  am  not  sure  but  that  his  shrewdness  and 
jnergy  have  frequently  preserved  me  from  danger.  ' 

"I  dare  say  he  has  been  very  good  to  you.  He  lookft 
like  he  was  a  good  boy,"  said  Dora. 

Ned  now  began  to  feel  somewhat  at  home,  and  with 
great  alacrity  performed  all  the  little  chores  preliminary 
to  the  start  for  the  Clin»to-n  farm,  which,  as  Trueman  did 
not  feel  disposed  to  ramble  about  town  and  see  the  sights, 
was  not  long  deferred. 

"We  are  all  ready,  I  believe,"  said  Mr.  Clinton,  as  Dick 
turned  the  carriage  in  front  of  the  depot  and  alighted  to 
assist  in  stowing  the  baofsraii'e.  "All  aboard!"  and  the 
crack  of  the  driver's  whip  announces  the  drive  to  the 
country,  xA.long  the  route  a  thousand  and  one  questions 
were  asked  and  answered  relative  to  the  condition  of  aifairs 
in  Tennessee,  and  particularly  respecting  the  Trueman  kin 
that  were  left  behind. 

It  was  observed  by  the  Clintons  that  Trueman  appeared 
somewhat  depressed  when  asked  about  his  wife  and  daugh- 
ters, always  accompanying  his  reply  with  a  sigh.  He  felt 
7 


98  THE   TEST   OP   LOYALTY. 

that  they  were  not  altogether  safe,  whatever  Dr.  Sharp's 
maneuvers;  that  should  his  expedients  for  keeping  the 
•secret  fail,  the  chances  for  3Irs.  Trueman  and  the  children 
were  slim.  The  Hoosier  relatives  desiring  to  direct  his 
mind  from  these  painful  reflections,  turned  the  conversa- 
tion to  a  more  enlivening  channel — crops,  scenery,  the  In- 
diana military  status,  etc.,  constituting  the  topics. 

Meantime,  Ned  and  Dick  were  rapidly  forming  an  ac- 
quaintance which  gave  prospect  of  a  very  close  intimacy 
between  those  individuals.  Following  the  carriage  home, 
and  seeing  Trueman  and  his  kin  snugly  housed  for  the 
evening,  we  shall  leave  them  for  the  present. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


THE   SURPRISE — THE   DELIVERANCE. 

Standing  upon  an  eminence  near  tlie  Trueman  residence, 
and  looking  in  a  south-westerly  direction,  we  see,  at  th^ 
distance  of  about  five  hundred  yards,  a  dragoon,  making 
his  way  directly  toward  the  house.  He  is  tall,  but  well 
proportioned,  and  a  graceful  rider.  His  steed  is  one  of 
superior  blood,— spirited,  and  nimble.  As  he  nears  the 
house,  we  perceive  that  he  wears  the  Confederate  uniform, 
and  the  speed  of  his  horse  indicates  that  he  is  upon  urgent 
business.  We  wonder  what  is  his  errand.  He  dismounts, 
hitches  his'  horse,  and  proceeds  to  the  house  with  a  con- 
fidence which  suggests  considerable  familiarity  with  the 
premises.     He  rings  the  door  bell;  a  servant  answers  the 

call. 

"Is  this  the  residence  of  John  Trueman?"  he  inquires, 
in  husky  tones. 

"Yes,  sah." 

"Is  he  in?" 

"No,  sah;  him  been  dead  free  days,"  answered  the  ser- 
vant, in  a  manner  betokening  suppressed  grief. 

"What,  dead!" 

"But,"  said  he,  resuming  his  former  gruffness,  "I  must 
to  business.     Show  me  your  mistress'  apartment." 

"Yes,  sah!     Dis  way,  sah;  dis  way." 

(99) 


100  THE   TEST    OF    LOYALTY. 

Following  the  servant,  the  cavalier  is  shown  into  Mrs. 
Trueman's  room. 

"Good  morning,  madam." 

"Good  morning,  sir;"  and  Mrs.  Trueman  rises  and  shows 
the  intruder  a  seat,  endeavoring  meanwhile,  to  get  a  close 
look  at  his  features;  for  while  his  voice  is  rather  strange, 
there  is  something  in  his  accent  and  his  demeanor  which 
seems  strikingly  familiar.  Ilis  air,  to  her.  is  not  an  easy 
one,  and  his  whiskers  and  hair  bear  the  semblance  of  dis- 
guise. "However,"  thinks  she,  "it  will  not  do  to  appear 
impudent,  and  I  must  not  follow  up  his  averted  counte- 
nance too  closely." 

He  motions  the  servant  out  of  the  room. 

"I  understand  Mr.  Trueman  is  dead." 

"Yes,  sir." 

"Rather  sudden,  that  death.  Was  his  wound  a  mortal 
one?" 

"No,  sir.  But  he  caught  cold  in  it,  and  it  mortified," 
replied  Mrs.  Trueman,  in  a  tone  not  indicating  that 
amount  of  sorrow  we  usually  expect  to  see  in  a  bereaved 
widow. 

"Madam,  I  am  your  friend,  and — " 

"Who  are  you?  No  man  is  my  friend  until  I  know 
him,"  and  Mrs.  Trueman  placed  her  hand  upon  her  revol- 
ver, her  constant  pocket  companion. 

"Can  you  keep  a  secret,  madam?"  asked  the  dragoon, 
kindly.  "The  one  I  would  impart  to  you  involves  my 
life,  and  perhaps  yours." 

"You  would  evade  a  direct  answer,  then.  Yes,  sir,  I 
am  a  icoman,  and  can  keep  a  secret." 

"Then,  mother,  I  need  not  tell  you  my  name,"  and  Albert 
Trueman  fell  at  his  mother  s  feet. 

"Albert!  Albert!  my  dear  boy!"  cried  Mrs.  Trueman, 


THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY.  101 

raising  him  and  pressing  him  to  her  heart.  "x\nd  you  are 
still  alive.  But,  how  comes  it  that  you  are  a  Confederate 
dragoon?     Explain,  my  boy,  explain!" 

"Be  very  silent,  mother;  we  may  be  overheard." 

Mrs.  Trueman's  presence  of  mind  admonished  her  of 
the  importance  of  closed  doors,  and  she  saw  that  they  were 
all  securely  bolted,  and  then  said,  in  a  low  tone: 

"Proceed,  Albert." 

"Well,  mother,  on  the  afternoon  of  that  fearful  day — of 
course  father  told  you  about  the  battle — and — " 

"Yes,  he  told  me  all  about  it." 

"Well,  my  horse  was  killed  under  me.  I  saw  all  my 
comrades  killed  or  wounded;  thought  at  first  I  would  die 
fighting.  Then  I  thought  of  you  and  the  girls.  I  stood 
in  the  bottom  of  a  little  sink.  A  dead  rebel  laid  at  my 
feet,  his  horse  near  by — for  they  had  a  few  cavalry.  It 
was  the  work  of  a  moment.  I  stripped  him  of  his  uni- 
form, donned  it,  mounted  his  horse,  and  rode  to  the  rear 
of  the  rebel  lines,  cheering  for  the  South.  This,  dear 
mother,  I  did  for  you — for  my  sisters.  You  know  I 
wouldn't  have  done  it  for  myself.     Was  it  right?" 

"Why,  certainly.  It  was  noble.  But  how  come  these 
whiskers?     They  are  not  yours." 

"Well,  you  see,  they  were  just  put  on  for  to-day,  merely 
to  keep  the  servants  from  recognizing  me;  for  none  of  the 
confeds  know  me.  And  we  have  not  been  long  enough  in 
East  Tennessee  for  any  of  the  natives  to  catch  me  up." 

"Shall  I  call  Louie  and  Jennie?" 

"Not  yet,  mother.     I  must  tell  you  my  errand." 

"Well,  go  ahead." 

"You  see,  mother,  Dr.  Sharp  is  the  only  person,  except 
yourself,  in  the  world  that  is  in  my  secret.     I  have  had 


102  THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY. 

frequent  conferences  with  him,  and  know  all  about  father's 
death  and  burial." 

"You  do?" 

"Yes;  and  the  next  thing  in  the  programme  is  to  hurry 
you  off,  with  all  speed,  to  Indiana." 

"  But  what  will  become  of  you,  my  boy?" 

"I'll  take  care  of  myself,  never  fear;  but  you  must  go 
to-morrow  morning.  Everything  is  ready.  Dr.  Sharp 
sends  by  me  all  the  passes  through  the  lines,  and  you  must 
go  on  the  first  train  to-morrow.  The  doctor  did  not  like 
to  risk  me  on  this  business,  but  I  could  not  bear  for  you  to 
leave  without  seeing  me,  and  so  I  prevailed  on  him  to  let 
me  come." 

"Thank  Heaven  for  this  most  gracious  dispensation," 
said  3Irs.  Trucman.     '-But  how  will  you  escape?" 

"Never  mind  me;  I'll  meet  you  in  the  United  States  be- 
fore long." 

"But  the  girls — I  must  see  them  now,  and  be  off." 

Mrs.  Trueuian  brought  in  Louie  and  Jennie,  after  first 
preparing  them,  aside,  for  ina  meeting — for  she  well  knew 
the  mercurial  temperament  of  Jennie  could  not  behave 
prudently  in  case  of  a  surprise — and  the  scene  which  fol- 
lowed was  one  of  those  sacred  ones  which  the  artist  may 
dimly  outline  but  cannot  develop.  A  lad — a  boy  just 
turning  his  teens,  who  has  experienced  more  within  the 
space  of  a  few  days  than  most  persons  do  in  a  lifetime,  in 
the  habiliments  of  disguise,  carrying  forward  a  scheme 
which  would  not  have  disgraced  Napoleon,  stands  in  the 
looked  embrace  of  two  who  have  hitherto  essayed  to  ad- 
vise him  in  all  matters  of  propriety,  alternately  kissing 
them  and  detailing  his  own  marvelous  escape  and  his 
methed  for  procuring  theirs.  No  wild  passion  energized 
his  will  or  nerved  his  arm  in  this  the  grand  enterprise  of 


THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY.  103 

his  life;  no  romantic  affection  for  an  affianced  bride  de- 
veloped tlie  expedients  requisite  to  the  performance  of  th© 
task  before  him.  But  it  is  that  pure,  unsullied  love  which 
the  true  son  and  brother  bears  to  his  mother  and  sisters 
which  makes  him  the  hero,  the  idol  that  he  is. 

The  time  arrives  for  his  departure.  He  bids  his  dear 
ones  adieu,  hastens  to  his  horse,  and  is  soon  seen  flying 
toward  the  rebel  camp. 

"3Iother,"  said  Louie,  "I  believe  I  have  the  most 
glorious  brother  in  the  world.  Why,  did  you  hear  him 
tell  how  he  helped  father  off  without  father  knowing  any- 
thing about  it?" 

''Certainly." 

"Oh!  wasn't  that  splendid! "  cried  Jennie ;  "J  tell  you, 
he's  the  boy." 

"There,  there,  Jennie,  be  careful,"  enjoined  Mrs.  True- 
man.  "Dont  you  know  our  danger?  Albert  is  a  heroio 
boyj  but  we'll  talk  more  about  that  some  other  time. 
Come,  we  must  not  forget  his  advice.  Let  us  be  preparing 
for  our  trip.  Dr.  Sharp  is  to  be  here  in  the  morning  to 
escort  us  to  the  train ; — those  passes — ah,  here  they  are, 
all  safe,"  and  Mrs.  Trueman's  heart  swelled  with  the  an- 
ticipated joy  of  again  seeing  her  husband. 

Servants  were  now  called,  trunks  and  bandboxes  pro- 
duced, and,  until  a  late  hour  in  the  day,  all  hands  were 
busied  in  packing  dry  goods  preparatory  to  the"  journey  to 
Hoosierdom. 

Mrs.  Trueman's  mind  was  now  comparatively  at  ease. 
She  had  for  sbme  days  felt  the  greatest  anxiety  on  account 
of  her  husband.  Her  fear  had  been  that  he  would  be  de- 
tected in  his  attempt  to  escape,  in  which  case  she  knew 
what  his  fate  would  be.  But  this  fear  had  been  removed 
by  Albert,  who  had   during  his  visit  graphically  sketched 


104  THE   TEST   OF    LOYALTY. 

to  Louie  bis  father's  hazardous  "ride  for  life"  and  his  safe 
exit  to  the  land  of  freedom.  Still,  more  than  this,  Albert, 
"whose  face  Mrs.  Trueman  had  not  hoped  to  see  since  the 
battle;  Albert,  her  husband's  living  miniature,  had  that 
day  pressed  her  hand,  called  her  mother — oh,  how  sweet 
that  name — and  bedewed  her  cheek  with  tears.  Indeed, 
this  was  one  of  the  most  glorious  days  of  Mrs.  Trueman's 
life — one  well  calculated  to  prepare  her  for  feeling  light 
the  sacrifice  of  home  and  property  she  was  about  to  make 

The  night  passed,  the  morning  came,  and  with  it  Dr. 
Sharp,  who  accompanied  Mrs.  Trueman  and  her  daughters 
to  the  depot,  where  they  were  to  bid  adieu  to  Tennessee. 

To  portray  the  feelings  of  the  Truemans  as  they  said 
good-bye  to  those  faithful  servants,  whose  very  existence 
was  knitted  to  theirs,  and  who  had  never  known  what  it 
is  to  depend  upon  themselves,  would  require  the  artist  to 
be  Mrs.  Trueman,  Jennie  and  Louie. 

There  was  the  kind,  trusty  old  mama  who  had  nursed 
and  watched  over  the  cradle  of  all  the  Trueman  children ; 
her  husband,  Aaron,  who  had  attended  them  along  the 
zigzag  paths  of  youth,  and  all  the  younger  slaves  with 
whom  they  had  grown  up — these,  all  these,  were  now  to  be 
left  to  the  mercies  of  those  who  were  strangers  to  mercy. 
Can  any,  save  those  who  had  the  trial  of  parting  from 
these  faithful  Africans,  tell  what  it  is  to  be  thus  separated? 
And  who  shall  be  blamed  for  all  the  domestic  troubles  of 
this  character  which  have  occurred  in  the  South?  Echo 
answers,  Southern  traitors. 

Pacifying  the  sorrowing  domestics,  to  some  extent,  by 
the  promise  that  she  would  endeavor  to  soon  have  them 
with  her,  Mrs.  Trueman,  with  her  daughters,  entered  the 
carriage,  which  had  been  hers,  and  ordered  the  driver  to 
proceed, 


THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY.  105 

"0,  home,  sweet  home!  gone  forever,"  she  murmured, 
as  the  carriage  rolled  away  toward  Knoxville.  But  the 
human  heart  is  ever  eager  for  consolation  when  troubled; 
and  Mrs.  Trueraan  found  in  the  expected  felicity  of  again 
embracing  her  husband  in  a  land  of  liberty,  a  balm  which, 
in  a  very  great  degree,  healed  the  wound  caused  by  the 
loss  of  her  home. 

Arrived  at  the  depot,  the  Truemans  were  soon  aboard  of 
the  train  and  moving  at  a  rapid  rate  toward  liberty,  father 
and  husband.  Nothing  worthy  of  remark  occurred  along 
the  route,  and  in  due  season  they  came  safely  to  Louis- 
ville, and  proceeded  thence  to  the  Hoosier  Capital,  where 
they  were  warmly  greeted  by  their  friends. 

Mr.  Trueman's  happiness  upon  finding  his  wife  and 
daughters  safe  with  him  was  raised  to  ecstatic  glee  upon 
hearing  that  Albert  was  still  alive.  And,  believing  that 
the  same  kind  Father  who  had  so  graciously  guided  and 
protected  them  would  conduct  Albert  safely  through  the 
wilderness,  he  banished  all  uneasiness  from  his  soul,  and 
found  sweet  contentment  in  that  hope  only  known  to  him 
who  has  an  abiding  faith  in  God. 


CHAPTER  IX 


THE    ESCAPE — THE    RETURN. 

It  is  a  balmy  summer  morning.  Not  a  cloud  is  to  be 
Been  upon  the  whole  face  of  the  sky,  as  the  sun  in  full 
glory  rides  up  the  eastern  horizon,  inviting  the  race  from 
slumber  to  nature's  grand  sanctuary  of  praise  and  thanks- 
giving. And  vre  are  reminded  that  as  by  the  day  god's 
chemico-vital  influence,  countless  changes  are  continually 
going  forward  in  the  mineral^  vegetable,  and  animal  king- 
doms— death  succeeding  life,  and  life  death — so  by  the 
mysterious,  all-pervading  power  of  Jehovah,  are  multifa- 
rious changes  perpetually  occurring  in  the  moral,  social, 
and  political  departments  of  the  intelligent  world — nation's 
birth  succeeding  nation's  death;  old  governments  and 
social  institutions  decaying  and  giving  place  to  new  ones. 
We  are  also  reminded  that  as  all  the  changes  produced  in 
the  physical  universe  tend  to  the  development  of  higher 
forms  of  life,  so  do  social  and  political  changes  promote 
the  development  of  better  forms  of  government. 

This  thought,  so  general,  so  sweeping,  applies,  this 
morning,  with  peculiar  force  to  our  own  people  and  gov- 
ernment. But  a  few  months  since,  the  African  was  avail- 
ing himself  of  every  opportunity  of  escape  from  his 
Southern  master;  but  now  a  great  political  revolution  is 
goins:  forward,  and  the  master  flees  from  his  slave  or  volunta- 
(106) 


THE   TEST    OF    LOYALTY.  107 

rily  gives  him  freedom,  that  he  may  secure  his  own. 
John  Trueman,  once  a  wealthy  slave  owner,  has  now  not 
even  a  hody  servant  whom  he  can  call  his  own.  A  num- 
ber of  slaves  have  been  left  by  him  in  Tennessee  to  effect 
their  own  freedom  by  escaping  from  illegal  masters,  or  to 
remain  and  be  confiscated;  while  one,  the  shrewdest,  most 
faithful  of  them  all,  has  worked  his  way,  with  his  master, 
to  a  land  of  liberty,  and  is  now  engaged  with  the  eccentric 
Dick  upon  the  Clinton  farm.  This  morning  he  may  be 
seen  in  company  with  his  colored  associate  sauntering  out 
toward  the  barn. 

"^Yell,  Dick,  you  say  you'd  like  to  heah  'bout  de  time 
massa  an  dis  chile  had  comin  frough  de  wilde'ness" 
"Ob  cou"se,  ob  cou'se." 

"Well,  I  don't  ha'dly  know  whah  to  begin;  but,  how- 
somevah,'  notwidstandin,  in  de  fust  place,  secondly,  you  see 
massa  he  go  dead-dat  is,  he  play  dead-de  mo  nin  befoah 
we  start,  an  be  toated  into  a  back  room,  which  open  to'ads 
de  stable.     Den  Doctoh  Sha'p,  he  hab  a  coffin  brought  to 
de  room  whah  massa  play  defunct,  as  Doctoh  Sha'p  say,  an 
habsumpin  powe'ful— whew!  awful  stinkin,— slipped  into 
'em.     Den,  in  de  second    place,  firdly,    de  doctoh  hab  de 
pa'son  come  an  sing,  an  pray,  an  preach  ober  de  dead  stink 
in  de  coffin,  to  git  de  Lo'd  to  sabe  'em.     Well,  den,  m  de 
fou'th  place,   sixteenthly,  Doctoh  Sha'p,  an  de  pa'son,  an 
ole  missus,  an  de  Suddern  sogers,  an  all  de  niggas,  'cept 
dis  chile,  went  in  a  camp  meetin  gang  to  de  grabe  ya'd  an 
den  dey  hab  a  little  moah  sing,  an  a  little  moah  preach,  an 
a  little  moah  pray  ober  de  defunct  stink,  an  dey  berry  'em 
widout  furder  ceremony;  an  all  de  'federate  foks  think  dat 
was  massa.     Now  dats  a  fac,  shoah  as  you  lib.  ^  Well,  den, 
dc   sogers   all   bein   gone,  massa  an  dis  chile,  in  de  night 
time,  be  slipped  onto   a  couple  ob  bosses,  which  Doctoh 


108  THE    TEST   OF    LOYALTY. 

Sha'p  hab  brought  to  us,  an  den  ^vc  git  fob  ole  Kentuck, 
gist  tolluble  libely  like.  But,  some  time  prcbiously,  on  de 
same  subsequential  night,  we  come  to  a  place  in  de  road 
whah  dar  was  a  'federate  gua'd,  an  he  said,  'halt!  advance 
an  gib  de  countr}-  sign,'  an — " 

"What  sign  is  dat,  Ned?" 

"What  sign?  Why,  de  country  sign,  ob  cou'se — dat  is 
a — a — sign  ob  de  Sutldern  country,  an  I  s'pose  dat's  a 
nigga.     Any  how,  dat's  what  dar  fighten  foh. 

"Well,  den,  when  he  ask  foh  de  country  sign,  massa 
show  de  Natcheese  sign — dat  is  a  six  shootin  pistol, — an 
de  'federate  drap  down  an  let  us  pass." 

"What  was  you  doin  den,  Ned?" 

"Dis  chile?  Why  he  was  playin  strachedy — dat  ig 
keepin  so'ter  befoah  massa,  an  de  top  o'  my  pate  to'ards  de 
'federate,  so  dat  if  he  shoot,  de  ball  hit  dat  an  bounce 
back. 

"Den  we  gallup  on  ober  mountains,  an  rocks,  an  brush, 
till  we  come  to  a  little  town  in  Kentuck,  an  dar  we  jump  on 
de  steam  kua"s  an  come  to  Louisville." 

"An  didn't  nobody  do  nuffin  to  you  after  dat  time?" 

"No;  'cept  once,  when  a  'federate  soger  tried  to  catch 
us,  but  we  hab  de  fastes  bosses  an  out  run  'em.  I  tell  you 
dar  aint  nuffin  like  strachedy,  nohow.  But  I  reccon  we 
mus  git  de  bosses  ready  to  go  to  town,  Dick." 

"Dats  so,  shoah  case;  Massa  Clinton  'spects  Geo'ge 
home  from  de  a'my  to-day." 

Dick  and  Ned  now  harnessed  the  horses,  hitched  them 
to  the  old  family  carriage,  and  drove  out  in  front  of  the 
house.  The  Clintons,  with  Dick  as  their  driver,  were  soon 
aboard,  and  whirling  toward  the  city. 

"Well,  father,  what  do  you  think  of  the  rebellion 
now?     Do  you  think  it  should  be  put  down,  nigger  or  no 


THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY.  109 

nifiirer?"  said  Dora  to  Mr.  Clinton,  rather  independently. 

'=Well,  ye-es,  I  reckon  so;  but,  then,  I'm  still  too  much 
of  a  Democrat  to  go  in  for  making  it  an  abolition  war." 

0,  pshaw!  out  on  Democracy! — on  everything  but  the 
country." 

"So  say  I,  Dora;  and  out  on  Abolitionism,  too.  Now 
don't  you  know  that  Ned  would  be  better  off  as  your 
uncle's  slave  than  he  could  be,  free?  And  then  who  wants 
the  nicTirers  freed  and  sent  amoncc  us?" 

CO  ^ 

"Dat's  what  I  say,  massa,"  chimed  in  Dick.  "We  don't 
want  'em  sent  among  ns — "  and  the  argument  was  inter- 
rupted by  a  general  outburst  of  laughter. 

"Father,"  replied  Dora,  "that  is  not  the  question.     It 
matters  not  whether  the  negro  is  better  off  as  a  slave  or 
not.     The  question  simply  is  this:     If  slavery  stands  in 
the   way   of  the  Government,  would  you  say,  'dowxi  with 
slavery  and  let  the  Government  live?'" 
"Well,  it  hasn't  come  to  that  yet." 
"I  think  it  is  coming  to  it  pretty  fast." 
"Well,  it  didn't  start  out  that  way,  any  how.     All  the 
cry  was,  '  Save  the  Union  now,  take  care  of  politics  and 
slavery  when  the  war  is  over?'  " 

"Yes,  father;  but  suppose   the  Union    can't    be    saved 
without  destroying  slavery — then  what?" 
"But  I  think  it  can." 

"You  do?  Look  at  the  Confederates  everywhere  using 
negroes  to  build  fortifications.  Then  look  at  the  Union 
troops  employed  to  guard  Confederate  slaves,  while  our 
men,  for  want  of  re-enforcements,  are  being  slaughtered  at 
Bull  Run.  I  tell  you,  father,  1  am  a  Democrat,  too,  and 
don't  like  negroes  any  better  than  you  do,  but  I  would 
rejoice   if  Lincoln   would  declare  universal   emancipation 


110  THE    TEST    or    LOYALTY. 

to-morroTV.  And  you  will  see  that  it  -will  have  to  corns  to 
that  yet.'' 

Mr.  Clinton's  only  reply  was  a  heavy  sigh.  He  felt  that 
the  simple,  common  sense  argument  of  his  daughter  was 
too  strong^  for  him. 

Dora  began  to  observe,  with  pain,  that  her  father, 
though  honest  and  well-meaning,  was  again  suffering  with 
that  disease  which  might  be  termed  Chronic  Democracy; 
that  while  he  was  capable  of  rising  superior  to  his  party 
predilections  on  occasions  of  peculiar  patriotic  excitement, 
yet  when  such  excitements  abated,  and  he  had  free  access 
to  Democratic  papers  and  politicians,  he  manifested  the 
chronic  symptoms  again.  She  was  greatly  troubled  to 
know  what  treatment  would  cure  him — alopathic,  homeo- 
pathic or  botanic.  With  the  first  she  had  had  consider- 
able success;  the  second  she  had  used  with  fair  results, 
but  still  she  had  not  effected  a  cure.  The  question  now 
was  whether  by  the  third,  which  she  had  never  tried,  she 
should  let  him  sweat  it  out.  The  alopathic  treatment 
seemed  to  work  well  after  the  symptoms  had  been  aroused 
by  Hardhead  on  the  occasion  of  George's  enlistment;  the 
homeopathic  seemed  to  have  some  effect  upon  the  recur- 
rence of  the  disease  which  followed  the  reading  of  Demo- 
cratic sheets,  and  which  was  manifest  in  Clinton's  corre- 
spondence with  George — for  George  had  written  Dora  all 
about  it.  This  treatment  was  applied  by  Mr.  Trueraan. 
After  thinking  the  matter  over  thoroughly,  she  decided  to 
try  the  steam  system,  well  knowing  that  his  own  party  was 
as  good  a  steam  tub  as  could  be  found,  and  that  the  Gov- 
ernment would  apply  the  heat.  She,  therefore,  at  the 
close  of  the  argument  just  cited,  lapsed  into  silence,  and 
resolved  to  say  nothing  to  him  again  touching  the  Union 
([uestion  until  she  saw  the  results  of  Democratic  inconsis- 


THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY. 


Ill 


tencies  and  the  future  developments  of  the  war  as  brought 
out  in  the  crucible  of  his  reflectives. 

About  nine  o'clock  the  family  arrived  at  town  and  re- 
paired to  the  depot  to  await  the  coming  of  George's  regi- 
ment, which  came  in  about  two  hours  afterjvard.  The 
crowd  gathered  to  receive  the  boys,  was  almost  as  large  as 
the  one  which  had  assembled  to  see  them  off  to  the  wars; 
and  the  enthusiasm  exhibited  as  the  brawny  sons  of  the 
gallant  Hoosier  State,  covered  with  glory,  debarked  and 
formed  into  two-ranked  column,  was  of  the  wildest 
character. 

"Aint  that  my  boy?"  asked  Mrs.  Clinton,  looking 
toward  the  front  of  the  column.  "Yes,  that's  him.  It 
is!  it  is!  it  is!  and  I'm  gwine  right  up  to  him." 

"No,  no,  wait  mother;  he  will  be  at  liberty  soon,"  said 

Dora. 

"His  mother's  at  liberty  now,"  and  the  old  lady  ran 
and  embraced  her  boy  in  the  presence  of  thousands.  ^  A 
mother's  affection  cannot  be  restricted  by  conventionalities. 

"Oh,  how  changed  you  look,  George!" 

"Stand   back,    madam,"    said   a   major,    "we   need  the 

room." 

"Well,  aint  that  a  purty  out,  indeed!  that  after  I've 
give  my  boy  to  the  army,  sich  a  lookin  thing  as  that  are 
should  deprive  me  from  speakin  to  him  merely  because 
he's  in  solumn  column.  Ah!  I  see  into  it  all.  This 
here's  a  gitten  to  be  a  military  despotism.  Sich  things  as 
that's  a  makin  the  money  and  gitten  the  honor,  an  our 
boys  is  a  doin  the  drudgery.  I  knowed  this  was  what 
Lincoln  was  after  all  the  time.  He  don't  care  nuthin 
about  the  Tennesseeans,  nor  the  Government,  nor  nobody 
else,   so  him  an  the  Republicans  fills  their  pockets.     I'll 


112  THE    TEST    OF    LOYAl/fY. 

see  if  George  goes   agin,"  muttered  Mrs.  Clinton,  retiring 
in  rather  bad  order  to  the  crowd. 

The  regiment  marched  to  the  State  capitol,  followed  by 
its  friends,  was  addressed  by  the  Governor,  and  released 
for  the  day.  George,  as  soon  as  he  had  lain  aside  his 
musket  and  accoutrements,  found  his  parents  and  sister. 

"0,  George,  I  am  so  glad  to  see  you  looking  so  happy 
and  hearty.  How  do  you  like  soldiering?"  said  Dora, 
laying  her  hand  on  his  shoulder. 

"Oh,  first  rate.  It  agrees  with  me.  We've  got  the  best 
regiment  and  the  best  oflBcers  in  the  world,"  replied 
Geor^-e,  in  that  confident  manner  so  generally  character- 
istic of  Western  volunteers. 

"Best  officers  in  the  world!"  muttered  Mrs.  Clinton. 
"Why,  George,  you  can't  be  in  yearnest,  shorely."  And 
here  she  related  the  treatment  she  received  at  the  hands 
of  the  major,  and  added,  "Now,  George,  aiut  you  power- 
fully gulled  by  these  fellers?  Can't  you  see  the  military 
despotism  a  sticken  out  all  round?" 

"Why,  pshaw,  mother,  that  is  no  more  than  an  efficient 
officer's  duty.  I  was  sorry  it  happened,  but  could  not 
blame  the  major.  The  lines  must  be  kept  clear  when  a 
regiment  is  on  the  march." 

"Lines  kept  clear,  indeed!  Now,  I'd  like  to  know  how 
much  it  'ud  a  hurt  'em  to  a  stopped  the  rigment  till  I  could 
a  spoke  a  few  words  to  you.  No,  I  tell  you,  Abe  Lincoln  's 
a  despot,  an  all  these  here  officers  is  tyrants,  an  wants  to 
gull  the  pore  people  an  git  rich  ofi"  o'  this  war,  an  that's 
all  they  keer  fur." 

"There,  mother,  I  see  you  are  all  wrong  again,"  said 
George,  looking  around  to  see  in  what  mood  his  father  ap- 
peared.    The  latter  looked  rather  grum  and  sad,  hung  his 


I 


THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY.  113 

head  and  said  nothing.  A  mere  glance  was  sufficient  to 
satisfy  George  as  to  the  cause  of  his  parents'  disaffection. 
In  his  mother's  look  and  language  he  could  detect  volumes 
of  political  gossip  with  Mrs.  Venom;  in  his  father's  eyes 
were  visible  numerous  conversations  with  Democratic  pol- 
iticians, and  in  the  very  lines  of  his  face  could  be  traced 
treasonable  editorials. 

The  young  soldier's  mortification  was  intense.  He  had 
gone  from  home  with  his  father's  blessing, — his  mother's 
sympathy;  he  had  left  his  parents  all  aglow  with  the  fire 
of  patriotism;  he  returned  to  find  them  poisoned  by  the 
wily  serpent,  secession  sympathy — cold  in  love  of  country, 
bitter  in  their  complaints  of  trivial  offences  and  imaginary 
abuses. 

"Oh,  how  I  wish  I  had  been  kept  in  the  service  !"  invol- 
untarily exclaimed  he.     "I  can't  stand  this." 

"Why,  George!"  responded  Dora,  "didn't  you  want  to 
see  us?" 

"Yes,  you^  Dora;  but  I  don't  know  why  I  should  want 
to  see  any  body  else."  And  George's  countenance  ex- 
pressed volumes  of  sadness. 

"Come  with  me  a  moment,"  said  Dora,  taking  his  arm 
and  leading  him  aside;  for  she  saw  how  much  he  stood  in 
need  of  a  different  treatment  from  that  he  received  from  his 
parents. 

"George,"  said  she,  after  they  had  retired  to  the  shade 
of  a  tree  in  a  remote  part  of  the  State  House  yard,."! 
know  something  of  how  you  feel."  And  an  expression  of 
mingled  pity  and  chagrin  marked  every  liniament  of  her 
face. 

"But,  Dora,  what  does  it  mean?  How  does  it  come? 
It  wasn't  this  way  when  I  left." 

"It  means  this,  George.  Father  has  been  almost  dailj 
8 


114  THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTV. 

visited  by  Northern  traitors — those  cowardly,  burrowing 
vermin,  who  infest  tliis  connnunity;  who  would  rather 
undermine  the  Government  and  lay  it  in  ruins,  than  be 
deprived  of  the  privilege  of  stealing  from  it.  With  these 
fellows  he  has  had  long  talks,  and  they  have  given  and 
sent  him  cords  of  treasonable  sheets, — as  the  Enquirer^  the 
Worlds  the  pusillanimous,  the  pitiful  Sentinel.  He  has  al- 
most slighted  his  bible  to  read  them." 

"Do  you  say!  But  why  didn't  you  burn  the  accursed 
trash?" 

"I  did — all  I  could  get  hold  of,  and  talked  to  him  about 
the  rottenness  of  such  stuff — tried  to  get  him  to  read 
Union  papers,  but  the  traitors  out-generaled  me,  and  kept 
his  ear  in  spite  of  my  efforts." 

"I  thought  there  was  something  up  from  his  letters; 
and  then  he  quit  writing." 

"Yes — by  the  way,  some  of  your  letters  did  good — there 
has  been  something  up  all  the  time.  Once  in  a  while  I 
could — just  after  reading  a  letter  from  you — see  in  his  face 
and  actions,  signs  of  a  very  strong  contest  between  love  of 
country  and  love  of  party.  Just  then,  if  I  had  a  good 
©pportunity  to  flank  him,  as  you  military  folks  say,  I  could 
almost  drive  him  from  his  Democratic  fortifications.  But, 
then,  perhaps  the  next  hour  he  would  receive  strong  rein- 
forcements from  the  city,  and  I  would  be  forced  to  retire." 

"  I  wondered  where  all  those  dirty  secession  sheets  came 
from,  to  us. 

"But  you  wrote  me,  Dora,  that  uncle  had  come,  and  that 
all  his  folks,  except  cousin  Albert,  are  here." 

"And  so  they  are." 

"Well,  what  have  they  been  doing?  Couldn't  they  put 
father  to  rights?" 

"They  didn't,  any  how.     You  see,  uncle  and  his  family 


THE   TEST   OF   LOYALTY.  115 

are  courteous  and  refined — feel  that  they  are  our  guests, 
and  don't  like  to  talk  too  plainly.  But  uncle  has  done 
some  good.  He  often  tells  father  that  the  Union  men  of 
the  South  are  for  the  Government  without  any  ifs  or  buts, 
and  relates,  in  glowing  style,  the  outrages  of  the  seces- 
sionists. And  once  I  heard  him  say  to  aunt,  in  private, 
that  our  Northern  traitors  were  a  disgrace  to  those  of  the 
South.     But  we  are  called — I  suppose  we  go  home."  ; 

"Yes;  but  if  it  were  not  for  you  and  uncle's  folks,  I 
wouldn't  go  a  step.  I'd  go  right  and  volunteer  now,  and 
back  to  the  South." 

"There,  George,  never  mind.  It  may  all  come  rig^ht  in 
a  few  days." 

George  procured  leave  of  absence  and  went  home  with 
his  folks,  feeling  anything  but  happy.  He  had  met  the 
enemy  of  his  country  upon  three  battle  fields;  had  maneu- 
vered and  fought  for  his  life  in  numerous  scouts  amid  the 
fastnesses  of  "West  Virginia;  had  seen  his  noble  comrades 
fall,  pierced  by  the  ball  of  a  lurking,  ambushed  foe;  had 
lain  whole  nights  upon  the  bare  ground,  without  tent,  in 
the  drenching  rain;  had  gone  for  days  without  food,  suf- 
fering all  the  horrors  of  hunger,  added  to  the  miseries  of 
unrespited  fatigue— all  this  he  had  undergone  for  his 
country,  and  was  consequently  in  no  condition  to  listen  to 
the  treasonable  mutterings  of  political  sore  heads,  much  less 
to  hear  their  sentiments  re-echoed  by  his  own  father  and 
mother.  A  day  or  so  spent  with  his  home  friends  and 
his  Tennessee  relatives,  during  which  time  the  pleasure  of 
seeing  his  refined  and  highly  patriotic  cousins  was  soured 
by  the  consciousness  of  his  parents'  indifference  to  the 
cause  of  his  heart,  and  George  returned  to  the  capital  to 
be  mustered  out  of  the  service.  Here  he  met  with  a  spe-^ 
cies  of  difficulties  more  trying  than  any  he  had  encoun-' 


116  THE   TEST    OF    LOYALTY. 

tered  during  the  service.  Red  tape  stood  in  the  way  of 
his  discharge  and  his  pay.  Government  ofi5cials  were  slow 
and  apparently  indifferent.  The  boys  were  detained  seve* 
ral  days,  being  crustily  put  off  from  time  to  time,  when 
they  applied  for  their  dismissal.  Promises  were  made  and 
broken  with  a  recklessness  truly  aggravating,  and  numbers 
of  soldiers  were  heard  to  say  that  if  it  were  not  for  the 
Governor,  whose  kindness  had  been  so  constant  to  them 
during  the  campaign,  they  would  tear  down  the  Govern- 
ment buildings  over  the  heads  of  the  officials.  George, 
among  others,  became  highly  exasperated,  and  declared,  "I 
will  volunteer  no  more  if  this  is  the  Government's  method 
of  proceeding."  He  now  began  to  fear  that  his  parents 
were  not  very  far  wrong  in  their  condemnations  of  the 
Administration.  During  this  season  of  protracted  sus- 
pense, he  was  called  on  by  his  old  flame,  Volatile  Venom, 
who,  with  other  young  ladies  of  her  kind,  was  ever  ready 
to  sympathize  with  anybody  aflflicted  by  the  "Lincoln  Gov- 
ernment." George  had  not  very  anxiously  hoped  to  see 
her,  but  when  she  did  appear,  he  had  not  the  hardihood  to 
slight  her  company,  or  refuse  to  listen  to  her  treasonable 
insinuations,  especially  as  the  latter  were  so  ingeniously 
sugar-coated,  and  so  peculiarly  adapted  to  his  own  feelings 
that  they  did  not  seem  so  bad  to  take.  His  old  male  asso- 
ciates of  the  secession  persuasion  were  also  very  indus- 
trious in  hunting  him  up;  were  likewise  very  sympathetic 
and  good-Samaritan-like  in  their  attentions.  In  short,  it 
so  happened  that  almost  every  conceivable  influence  was 
brought  to  bear  against  his  patriotism  at  a  time  when  he 
was  most  susceptible. 

Finally,  however,  he  was  discharged  and  paid,  but  did 
not  return    home    with    that   inflexible   determination    tf 


THE   TEST   OF   LOYALTY.  117 

stand  by  his  country,  right  or  wrong,  which  formerly  sus- 
tained him  so  amply  under  very  trying  circumstances. 

How  true  it  is  that  we  never  know  ourselves  until  we 
are  tried  by  that  which  strikes  at  our  personal  interests. 

Upon  George's  coming  home,  Dora  noticed  that  some- 
thing had  wrought  a  change  in  him,  and  she  was  not  long 
in  ascertaining  the  causes.  Knowing  her  influence  over 
him,  she  addressed  herself  most  assiduously  to  the  task  of 
putting  him  to  rights,  and  was  not  long  in  accomplishing 
her  object. 

"Well,  sister,"  said  he  one  day  when  talking  to  her,  "I 
guess  you  are  right.  War  is  a  new  thing  to  this  Grovern- 
ment,  and  things  can  not  go  at  first  as  we  might  wish." 

His  old  regiment  was  now  being  reorganized  at  Indiana- 
polis, and  having  a  desire  to  go  again  with  "the  boys,"  he 
determined  to  re-enlist.  But  this  time  he  asked  neither 
the  advice  nor  the  consent  of  his  parents.  He  knew  that 
Dora  would  support  him  with  her  whole  soul;  and  inas- 
much as  she  had  become  his  sun  by  day,  his  guiding  star 
by  night,  his  heart's  idol,  his  all,  he  cared  for  little  else. 
Who  shall  estimate  the  moral  and  spiritual  worth  of  a 
true,  devoted  sister? 

Time  wore  apace,  and  just  two  weeks  after  George's  dis- 
charge from  the  three  months'  service,  he  re-enlisted  for 
three  years,  little  knowing  the  trials  that  were  in  store  for 
him.  The  regiment  remained  at  Indianapolis  three  weeks 
after  his  re  enlistment,  during  which  time  certain  very  im- 
portant changes  occurred  among  the  Clintons  and  True- 
mans,  which  are  related  in  our  next  chapter. 


CHAPTER    X 


THE    NEW    HOME — THE    SURPRISE. 

Mr.  Trucman  having  become  a  permanent  citizen  of 
Indiana,  and  having  been  accommodated  by  his  brother- 
in-law,  to  the  requisite  means,  purchased  a  little  home 
near  the  capital — a  neat  little  cottage  and  three  acres  of 
ground — furnished  his  house  with  plain  furniture,  and 
settled  his  ftimily  in  it. 

"Are  we  ourselves,  or  not?"  asked  Louie  of  Jennie,  one 
day  as  they  sat  on  the  door  step  and  surveyed  the  extent 
of  their  possessions  at  a  glance. 

"  I  don't  know,  Louie.  It  don't  look  much  like  it.  Only 
think  of  what  we  were." 

"Yes,  and  then  what  we  are^  Jennie.'" 

"Well,  I  reccon  we  ought  not  to  complain.'' 

"No.  Think  of  what  scores  of  the  Union  people  of  our 
State  are  suffering — folks  that  were  as  rich  as  we  were, 
without  money,  without  property,  without  home." 

"  Yes,  and  the  home  we  have,  thank  Heaven,  through 
the  assistance  of  kind  friends." 

"Who's  to  do  our  cooking  and  house  cleaning,  though? 
That's  the  question.  Oh,  if  I  could  only  cook  like  Cousin 
Dora." 

"Don't  ask  me  that,  Jennie.  That's  a  vexed  question; 
but,  I  guess,  we'll  have  to  learn." 

"Mother  says  we  must  try  our  hands  to-day." 
(118) 


THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY.  119 

"I  wonder  if  Ned  can  cook?     Call  him." 
"Ned!     Ned!     Where  are  you?"  cried  Jennie,  and  in  a 
moment  the  representative  of  the' burnt  land  appeared. 
"Ned,  can  you  cook?"   asked  Jennie. 
"0,  yes.  Miss  Jennie,  dis  chile  knows  sumpin  'bout  dat; 
but  he  knows  moah  'bout  de  eatin  pa't,  dat's  a  fac." 

"Well,  it's  about  dinner  time,  Louie,  suppose  we  take  a 
lesson  of  Ned." 

The  proposition  was  accepted,  and  all  proceeded  to  the 
kitchen,  and  went  to  work, 

"Dar,  Miss  Jennie,  you's  done  it  now — put  de  whole  box 
ob  peppeh  in  de  co'n  bread — yah!  yah!" 

"Why,  Ned,  I  thought  that  was  the  saleratus." 
"Did  you  ebber  see  sallyrattus  in  de  pepeh  box?" 
"Poh!  we  never  had  pepper  boxes  in  the  South — that  is 
T  never  saw  one  on  the  table." 

"Dar,  now.  Miss  Louie,  dat  beats  all — stirren  de  wheat 
dough  wid  a  tea  spoon." 
"How  then,  Ned?" 

"Why  dis  way— wid  youah  hands."    And  Ned  took  hold 
of  the  dough,  moistened  it  and   tugged  away  at  it  like  a 
good  fellow.     "Dat's  de  style." 
"Is  dat  a  cat?     Whah  am  it?" 

"Why,  in  the  stove!"  cried  Louie;  and  she  rushed  to 
the  stove,  opened  it,  and  out  jumped  a  large  cat,  almost 
scorched  to  a  crisp,  leaving  a  half-baked  pie  scattered  in 
fragments  all  over  the  oven. 

"Well  don't  dat  beat  de  dickens.  Could'nt  you  see  dat 
cat  when  you  put  de  pie  in?  I's  feared  I  haf  to  gib  up  de 
job  of  'structin  ye  in  de  science  ob  kitchenology  altogedder, 
dat's  a  fac." 

At  this  juncture  the  teacher  and  his  pupils  were  sur 
prised  by  the   sudden  appearance  of  Dora  Clinton,  who, 


120  THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY. 

after  a  hearty  laugh,  took  the  dinner  in  hand  and  com- 
pleted it  in  the  best  of  stylo, 

"There,  now,  call  Mother,  and  let's  cat,"  said  Louie." 

"Where  is  Uncle?"  asked  Dora.  ''I  did  not  see  him 
when  I  left  Aunt  in  the  parlor." 

'•He  is  in  town,  seeing  about  getting  business,"  replied 
Louie. 

"What  business  docs  he  want?" 

"Well,  almost  anything.  If  he  can  get  nothing  else  he 
will  go  to  a  printing  office." 

"Why  is  Uncle  a  printer?' 

"He  was,  when  he  was  a  boy." 

"Where?" 

"In  New  Haven.  He  went  there  from  Virginia  when 
he  was  a  boy  to  learn  the  trade  with  his  uncle." 

"Aye!  and  has  Uncle  been  a  Yankee?" 

"Of  course,  and  is  yet,  all  except  the  vernacular,  which 
is  pretty  well  southernized." 

Mrs.  Trueman  was  now  called  to  dinner,  and  after  the 
joke  in  reference  to  the  lesson  in  cooking  was  told,  and  all 
had  enjoyed  a  good  laugh,  the  party  proceeded  to  the  dis- 
cussion of  the  practical  merits  of  the  dinner,  and  a  general 
talk. 

"Have  you  seen  Cousin  George  to-day,  Dora?"  inquired 
Jennie. 

"Yes,  I  have  just  come  from  his  camp." 

"Missus!  Missus!  I  j is  now  see  Massa  George  Clinton 
comin  up  de  road  wid  somebody  what  look  mightly  like 
dat  'federate  soger  what  try  to  stop  me  an  ole  Massa  on  de 
way  to  dis  country.  I  tell  you,  Missus,  it  be  him  or  som- 
body  jis  like  him,  fob  dat  fella  make  a  mighty  'stinct 
'mpression  on  dis  chile's  mind,  dat's  a  fac." 

"Is   George    coming   with    him,   Ned?"    eagerly  asked 


THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY.  121 

Dora;  and  she  pushed  aside  her  plate  and  hurried  to  the 
front  door. 

"Yes,  it  i^  George,"  exclaimed  she. 

But  a  few  minutes  elapsed,  and  George  Clinton,  with  a 
young  man,  dressed  in  confederate  uniform,  rode  up  to  the 
front  fence,  alighted,  hitched  and  approached  the  door. 

By  this  time  Mrs.  Trueman,  whose  appetite  had  vanished 
upon  the  delivery  of  Ned's  message,  had  made  a  hasty  pre- 
paration of  her  toilet  and  was  coming  toward  the  front 
door,  closely  followed  by  Jennie  and   Louie. 

It  is  a  characteristic  of  Southern  ladies  that  they  never 
permit  themselves  to  appear  in  company  after  eating,  until 
they  have  made  due  toilet  preparation,  while  our  Western 
women  would  about  as  soon  be  introduced  to  the  most  elite 
strangers  in  the  midst  of  a  meal  as  otherwise. 

"Why  that's— that's  Albert!  As  I  live  it  is!"  cried 
Mrs.  Trueman,  and  the  whole  bevy  started  at  double  quick 
for  the  gate,  Mrs.  Trueman  keeping  in  the  advance. 

"Oh,  my  dear,  dear  boy!"  she  exclaimed,  throwing  her 
arms  about  his  neck,"  you  did  escape!  God  did  protect 
you,  and  bring  you  to  me,"  and  she  drew  him  close  to  her 
heart. 

"Thank  God,  we  are  all  saved  now,"  cried  Louie;  and 
she,  her  sister  and  mother,  encompassed  Albert  and  be- 
dewed the  earth  with  tears  of  joy.  George  and  Dora  with- 
drew a  few  paces  and  gazed  upon  the  touching  tableau 
with  mingled  feelings  of  awe  and  sympathetic  bliss.  Re- 
pairing to  the  house,  they  were  there  but  a  few  minutes 
when  Mr.  Trueman  came  in. 

"What!     My  boy!" 

"Father!"  And  father  and  son  locked  in  holy  embrace, 
and  with  uplifted  hands  returned  solemn   thanks  to  the 


122  TUE    TEST    OF    LriYALTV. 

Father  of  mercies  for  their  most  wonderful  and  gracious 
deliverance. 

Was  it  not  meet  that  this  should  be  done?  Here  was 
the  entire  Trueman  family — once  wealthy,  proud,  influen- 
tial; recently  torn  asunder,  scattered  and  scourged  by  the 
demon  secession;  now  re-united,  poor,  but  happy  in  a  land 
of  liberty  and  safety. 

When  the  company  had  regained  it<  mental  equilibrium, 
and  Albert  had  been  introduced  to  his  cousin,  Dora,  all 
united  in  a  request  that  he  should  tell  how  he  escaped.  Ilis 
story  was  a  brief  one.  He  had  been  sent  by  the  confederate 
commander  in  East  Tennessee,  along  with  a  number  of 
others,  to  make  discoveries  in  Kentucky.  When  he  reached 
that  State  he  watched  his  opportuniry.  an  1  when  on  a  scout, 
and  out  some  distance  from  his  comrad-:  s,  laid  whip  to  his 
horse,  was  soon  out  of  sight,  and  wa:4  but  half  a  day  in 
making  his  way  to  a  railroad  station,  where  he  sold  his 
horse  and  embarked  for  Louisville.  Arriving  at  that  city 
the  day  following,  he  reached  Indianapolis  the  next,  where, 
happening  to  meet  George  Clinton,  with  whom  he  soon 
formed  an  acquaintance,  he  inquired  for  his  father.  George, 
having  a  short  leave  of  absence,  cheerfully  accompanied 
him  to  his  father's  residence.  And  this  is  the  whole  story 
of  his  escape.  He  ran  no  hair  breadth  escapes,  was  not 
several  times  thrown  from  his  horse;  nor  was  he  at  any 
time  rescued  from  imminent  danger  by  accident  or  the  timely 
interference  of  friends.  He  simply  had  a  good  horse,  made 
good  use  of  time  and  saved  himself. 

Dora  was  highly  pleased  with  his  appearance  ;  but  the 
reader  need  not  imagine  that  she  was  silly  enough  to  fall 
in  love  with  her  cousin.  She  was  merely  impressed  witlj 
the  idea  that  he  is  a  noble,  manly  fellow. 

Time  glided   along  almost  imperceptibly,  and    George, 


THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY.  123 

fearing  his  leave  vrould  run  out  and  find  liirn  absent  from 
camp,  excused  himself  and  returned  to  town,  taking* with 
him  the  horses  he  had  hired  to  bear  himself  and  cousin  to 
his  uncle's. 

By  this  time,  having  concluded  that  his  time  was  come, 
Ned,  the  faithful  and  tried,  sued  for  recognition,  and  was 
warmly  greeted  by  his  former  young  master. 

"Massa,"  said  he,  turning  to  Albert's  father,  "don't  you 
'cognize  Massa  Albe't  as  de  indiwidual  dat  wanted  de 
'country  sign'  dat  time?  I  tell  you,  massa,  dis  chile  neb- 
ber  was  fooled  yit,  by  moon  light,  an  dis  am  de  chap  dat 
want  de  country  sign,  an  dis  chile  play  off  strachedy  on 
him,  dat's  a  fac." 

"Never  mind  that.  Ned.  Your  mistress  has  told  me  all 
about  it." 

"Missus!  I'd  like  to  know  what  missus  knows  'bout 
strachedy?'] 

"There,  that  will  do,  Ned." 

Dora  remained  during  the  afternoon,  and  shared  the  cup 
of  happiness,  which  was  full  to  running  over  in  the  True- 
man  fajnily.  In  their  palmiest  days,  when  wealth  and 
luxury  were  even  burdens  to  them,  the  Truemans  had 
never  known  the  joy  they  did  this  afternoon.  How  true 
it  is  that  poverty  and  persecution  prepare  the  soul  for  its 
fullest  measure  of  bliss. 

Toward  evening  the  conversation  turned  upon  business, 
and  Mr.  Trueman,  remarking  that  he  had  looked  around 
all  day  for  business,  declared  it  as  his  intention  to  join  the 
Union  army. 

"Why?"  asked  his  wife. 

"Why,  because,"  said  he,  "I  have  heard  so  much  trea- 
son to-day,  uttered  by  men  who,  instead  of  losing  their  all 
in  property,  by  this  war,  as  I  have,  have  grown  rich  and 


124  THE   TEST    OF   LOYALTY. 

are  stiil  getting  richer  under  the  protection  of  this  Gov- 
ernment— I  say  I  have  heard  so  much  treason  from  their 
lips  that  I  have  resolved  to  try  to  shame  a  few  of  them  by 
going  to  the  support  of  the  standard  of  my  country." 

"Well,  but  suppose  they  will  not  be  shamed,  husband?" 

"Then  I  shall  propose  to  Old  Abe  that  he  let  me  hang 
a  few  of  them.  There  are  certainly  some  of  the  meanest 
lickspittles  here  in  the  North  that  I  have  ever  seen." 

"Well,  father,  if  you  go  I  must  go  with  you,"  said 
Albert.  • 

"You  shall,  my  boy!*'  and  Trueman  and  Albert  struck 
hands  in  a  pledge  to  fight  armed  traitors  while  one  re- 
mained. 

"Did  not  Mrs.  Trueman  object?"  the  reader  may  ask. 
Not  she.  She  had  always  loved  her  husband  and  son  as 
dearly  as  wife  and  mother  ever  loved.  They  were  doubly 
endeared  to  her  by  the  unprecedented  trials,  the  sacrifices, 
the  heroism  of  the  past  few  months.  But  her's  was  not  that 
selfish  affection  which  is  fed  and  sustained  by  personal 
gratification — by  exclusive  caresses  and  attentions.  It  was 
an  affection  presided  over  by  that  magnanimous  spirit 
which  links  the  interests  of  humanity  with  the  interests  of 
self — by  that  love  of  country  which  sees  no  personal  hap- 
piness beyond  the  perpetuity  of  the  Government.  She 
had  witnessed  the  horrors  of  a  causeless  rebellion  in  the 
section  in  which  it  originated;  she  had  felt,  to  her  heart's 
core,  the  sting  of  that  vile  serpent  which  would  fasten  its 
deadly  fangs  upon  the  fair  form  of  Columbia;  she  had  ex- 
perienced the  woes  of  civil  war  and  the  value  of  govern- 
ment; she  had  made  a  willing  sacrifice  of  her  wealth  and 
caste  upon  the  altar  of  Freedom,  and  she  was  now  ready  to 
make  any  further  sacrifice  which  might  be  demanded  by  her 
country. 


THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY.  125 

0,  ye  mean  spirited  cowards  who  would  have  peace  at 
the  expense  of  liberty;  ye  obsequious  menials  who  would 
prostrate  yourselves  in  the  dust  before  the  beast  whose  rule 
is  slavery,  and  implore  a  cessation  of  hostilities  that  your 
money,  your  property,  and  your  worthless  lives  may  be 
spared — ye  libels  upon  the  name,  American,  look  at  this 
patriotic  daughter  of  the  South,  her  noble  husband  and 
son,  and  then,  tortoise-like,  shrink  back  in  your  slimy 
shells  and  hide  your  sneaking  faces  from  the  gaze  of  hon- 
orable men. 

"It  looks  hard,"  said  she,  "to  part  with  you  now,  after 
just  passing  through  with  what  we  have,  but  if  your  coun- 
try needs  you,  go.     Her  claims  are  superior  to  mine." 

Dora  sat  and  contemplated  this  remarkable  manifestation 
of  devotion  to  Liberty,  with  a  strange  feeling  of  inspira- 
tion and  mortification  combined — of  inspiration  because  of 
the  nobleness  of  the  exhibition,  of  mortification  because 
her  own  father,  who  had  not  sufi"ered  a  tithe  of  what  True- 
man  had.  showed  scarcely  a  tithe  of  his  loyalty. 

Night  approached,  and  Dora,  after  promising  to  visit  her 
aunt  and  cousins  often,  and  give  lessons  on  the  cook  stove, 
(rather  more  important,  by  the  way,  than  lessons  on  the 
piano,)  ordered  her  horse  and  galloped  home. 

A  few  days  were  passed  happily  in  an  exchange  of  visits 
between  the  Clintons  and  Truemans,  during  which  time  a 
great  deal  of  history  was  rehearsed,  and  Albert  and  his 
father  volunteered  in  the  service  of  the  United  States  for 
three  years.  George  Clinton's  glowing  descriptions  of  the 
brilliant  military  achievements  of  his  regiment,  together 
with  his  earnest  solicitations,  induced  them  to  enlist  in  his 
company. 

The  regiment  was  now  nearly  full,  and  in  the  course  of  a 
few  days  was  ordered  to   Kentucky.     It  was  there  but  a 


126  THE    TEST    OP    LOYALTY. 

short  time  when  it  took  a  leading  part  in  the  glorious 
affair  at  Mill  Springs.  In  this  decisive  engagement,  which 
resulted  in  the  hurling  back  of  Zollicoffer's  forces,  and  the 
salvation  of  the  Northern  Border  States,  Trueman,  in  a  des- 
perate bayonet  charge,  ^Yas  slightly  wounded;  and  his  regi- 
mental officers,  having  proven  his  fine  soldierly  qualities,  and 
having  had  frequent  exhibitions  of  his  rare  executive  powers, 
promoted  him  to  the  rank  of  first  sergeant.  He  occupied 
this  position  but  a  short  time,  when  he  was  appointed  to 
fill  the  vacancy  occasioned  by  the  death  of  a  second  lieu- 
tenant; and  finally,  upon  the  reduction  of  Fort  Donelson, 
he  was  commissioned  a  captain.  In  the  meantime,  Albert 
had  been  promoted  to  a  first  sergeancy. 

Trueman's  pay  now,  together  with  Albert's,  was  sufficient 
to  support  the  family  at  home  in  good  style,  and  by  care- 
ful economy,  to  enable  them,  at  no  very  distant  day,  to  pay 
for  their  cottage  home.  It  was  a  matter  of  considerable 
relief  to  Mrs.  Trueman,  meanwhile,  to  be  able  to  employ 
an  efficient  cook — one  capable  of  making  practical  house- 
keepers of  the  girls. 

As  the  army  of  the  Great  West  pressed  forward,  pene- 
trating the  territory  claimed  by  the  Southern  Confederacy, 
achieving  victory  after  victory,  Trueman  rejoiced  to  know 
that  the  old  Hermitage  State — the  State  of  his  early  adop- 
tion— was  being  rescued  from  the  grasp  of  the  arch-traitor 
and  secured  to  the  Union,  How  eagerly  he  awaited  the 
hour  when  the  down-trodden  patriots  of  East  Tennessee 
should  be  able  to  rise  and  execute  full  vengeance  upon  their 
merciless  oppressors;  when  they  and  their  families  could 
be  re-established  in  their  rightful  homes,  and  again  enjoy 
the  priceless  blessings  of  liberty,  under  the  protection  of 
the  starry  flag.     "We  occupy  Nashville  to-day,"  said  he, 


THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY.  127 

in  a   letter  to  his   wife.     ''God,  the  Government,  and  the 
right  must  succeed." 

Happy  indeed  must  he  have  been  to  feel  that  the  faith 
upon  which  he  had  staked  his  all,  and  for  which  he  had 
suffered  such  fiery  persecutions,  had  not  been  misplaced. 
And  how  different  this  feeling  from  that  which  shrinks  the 
soul  and  sears  the  heart  of  the  traitor  who  sees  that,  day 
by  day,  the  just  penalty  of  his  crimes  approaches. 


CHAPTER  XI. 


THE    viper's   sting. 

"Ninnie  Hardhead  is  not  far  wrong,"  muttered  George 
Clinton  to  himself,  as  he  folded  a  letter  he  had  just  read, 
and  seated  himself  on  a  stone  in  front  of  Yieksburg. 
''Not  far  wrong,  I  think.  He  says,  what  I  have  expe- 
rienced: 'This  is  an  unnecessarily  prolonged  war — a  war 
for  the  benefit  of  officers — a  money-making  war.'  Truth 
in  that.  And  he's  about  right  in  saying  that  nobody  but 
Republicans  stand  much  chance  for  positions.  Here's 
uncle,  and  cousin  AL,  both  promoted  from  the  ranks — one 
to  a  captaincy,  the  other  to  a  sergeancy.  I've  been  in  the 
service  longer  than  either  one  of  them;  have  done  more 
hard  fighting;  have  brought  more  recruits  to  the  regiment 
than  any  man  in  it,  and  yet  I  am  nothing  but  a  private; 
just  what  I  was  at  the  commencement  of  the  three  months' 
campaign.  Nearly  all  the  boys  in  our  company — sons  of 
Republicans — that  were  in  West  Virginia,  have  some 
office.  I  don't  see  what  I'm  fighting  for,  but  to  fill  officers' 
pockets.  The  war  is  no  nearer  to  an  end  now  than  it  was 
two  years  ago."  And  George  again  produced  the  letter  and 
read  it. 

''Would  I  rather  be  free  and  getting  a  salary  of  one 
hundred  a  month?"  Well  I  guess  I  would.  How  to  do 
it,  though — that's  the  question.  And,  then,  could  I  face 
(128) 


THE  TEST    OF    LOYALTY.  129 

Dora — that  sweet  sister  who  has  been  so  true?  How  could 
I  look  at  her?  I  believe  it  would  be  easier  to  take  Vicks- 
burg  than  to  do  that.  But — then — but,  then  she's — she's 
mistaken;  she's  greatly  misled,  as  Ninnie  says." 

Here  George  hung  his  head  and  lapsed  into  a  prolonged 
ruminating  silence.  Then  rising  to  his  feet  and  looking 
uneasily  around,  muttered: 

"Wants  me  to  try  and  make  it  all  right  between  him 
and  Dora,  hey?  Offers  me  five  hundred  to  do  it.  Could 
take  Yicksburg  three  times  while  I'd  do  that  once.  May 
be  some  way  to  do  it,  but  I  can't  see  it.  But,  I'm  going 
to  try  getting  out  of  this,  that's  so — how?  Let's  see.  Get 
a  furlough  home,  and  forget  to  come  back?  No;  that's 
played  out;  too  stout  to  get  a  furlough.  I'll  take  my 
chance  for  a  French  leave.  Wait  till  I'm  on  picket 
again." 

George  now  produced  his  portfolio  and  wrote  a  long  let- 
ter to  Dora,  giving,  in  doleful  detail,  the  hardships  and 
disappointments  he  had  suffered  since  re-entering  the  ser- 
vice, and  complaining  bitterly  of  the  partiality  he  thought 
he  observed  in  the  matter  of  promotions,  etc. 

The  reader  may  now  wish  to  know  the  causes  of  this 
wonderful  change  in  George.  We  will  give  them :  In  the 
first  place,  he  had  suffered  his  loyalty  to  be  invaded  by  the 
dissatisfaction  arising  from  his  presumed  mistreatment  in 
regard  to  his  discharge  from  the  three  months'  service. 
And,  although  he  appeared  so  willing  to  enlist  the  second 
time,  yet  his  faith — that  all-preserving  element  of  a  young 
man's  character — had  suffered  a  wreck,  and  his  aims  were 
never  so  pure  and  unselfish  thereafter.  How  essential  to 
a  boy's  right  success  is  confidence.  It  should  never  be 
shaken. 

In  the  next  place,  a  great  effort  Kad  been  made  in  the 
9 


130  THK    TEST    OF    LOYALTY. 

North  to  reorganize  the  Democratic  party.  The  occasional 
reverses  to  the  Federal  arms  had  given  pretexts  for  criti- 
cism and  complaint.  Politicians  and  ne^yspapers  opposed 
to  the  war,  had  taken  bold  ground  against  the  Government. 
The  election  in  Indiana  had  gone  largely  against  Unionism, 
and  treason  seemed  to  be  growing  popular.  It  was  now 
that  Ninnie  Hardhead  insinuated  himself  into  a  corres- 
pondence with  George;  first  talking  a  little  patriotic,  but 
lamenting  the  reverses  of  the  Union  armies,  and  the  suf- 
ferings of  the  '"poor  soldiers."  Then,  advancing  as  he  drew 
George  out,  and  hinting  that  the  Eepublicans  would  never 
end  the  war.  Then,  ascertaining  George's  tender  place, 
his  jealousy  growing  out  of  a  disappointed  ambition — he 
unmasked  his  batteries  and  directed  his  heaviest  guns  at 
that.  The  effort  succeeded.  George  revoaled  to  the  enemy 
the  weakest  point  in  his  moral  fortifications  and  suffered 
himself  to  be  surrounded.  He  was  forced  to  capitulate. 
The  enemy  offered  magnanimous  terms — a  pleasant  posi- 
tion, a  hundred  dollars  per  month,  protection  from  the 
"Abolition  Government." 

What  were  young  Hardhead's  motives?  Why,  he  de- 
sired two  things:  first,  to  distinguish  }iimself  in  the  service 
of  his  party;  second,  to  reduce  the  proud  spirit  of  Dora 
Clinton.  He  once  thought  his  chance  good  for  winning 
her.  At  least,  he  was  smitten,  and  thought  her  approach- 
able. But  his  conduct,  in  her  presence,  toward  Union 
soldiers  had,  in  her  own  language,  "placed  a  gulf  as  wide 
as  the  difference  between  treason  and  patriotism,"  between 
her  and  him,  and  he  had  sworn  to  either  make  her  repent 
or  ruin  her  happiness. 

If  he  could  get  George  to  desert  by  his  seductive  pro- 
mises, he   could   then,  he   thought,  bring  her  to  terms,  or 


THE   TEST   OF    LOYALTY.  131 

despoil  her  future  happiness  by  exposing  her  brother  to 
the  vengeance  of  the  laws. 

The  spirit  of  treason  is  ever  the  same  whether  exhibited 
in  a  national  or  personal  affair— either  rule  or  ruin. 

"I'll  tame  the  jade,  yet,"  said  Ninnie,  one  day,  to  him- 
self, just  after  reading  one  of  George's  letters. 

'•  Let's  see— wants  to  know  what  to  write.  Well  he  must 
tell  her  that  I  am  coming  over  to  the  Union  cause,  all 
right— and— by  the  way  to  make  things  better,  I'll  work 
myself  into  a  position— a  place  in  the  pay  department, 
that's  the  ticket." 

But  we  return  to  George.  Two  days  after  his  reception 
of  the  letter  containing  the  seductive  promise  of  an  easy 
position,  a  large  salary,  and  sure  protection  from  the  law 
against  deserters,  he  was  placed  on  outpost  dutj.  It  was 
night— a  dark  night,  and  George  thought  the  time  highly 
favorable  to  desertion. 

"It  will  win,  I  think,"  whispered  he,  sauntering  out 
from  his  comrades  upon  the  pretext  that  he  saw  something 
crawling  in  the  distance,  and  wanted  to  see  what  it  was. 

"  Now's  my  time,"  said  he,  and  he  threw  aside  his  accou- 
trements, and  started  at  full  speed. 

A  desertion  from  Vicksburg,  at  this  time  was  considered 
next  to  impossible.  The  water  channels  of  communication 
with  the  North  were  all  in  possession  of  the  Union  forces; 
almost  every  natural  and  artificial  obstruction  had  to  be 
overcome  in  taking  any  land  route.  George's  success  was 
extremely  doubtful,  not  only  on  account  of  these  difficul- 
ties, but  because  of  the  depletion  in  his  energy  and  courage 
arising  from  the  constant  conflict  going  on  between  his 
ambition  and  his  conscience. 

"Hist!  Is  that  a  soldier  there,  in  my  rear?"  whispers 
he,  turning  and  trying  to  catch  the  form  of  an  imaginary 


132  THE   TEST   OF    LOYALTY. 

object.  "If  it  is — my  God!"  and  he  wheels  and  runs  for 
life. 

"Oh,  horrors!  Dora's  ghost!  It  must  be!  It  moves 
towards  me!  But,  then,  she's  not  dead!  How  can  it  be?" 
he  tremblingly  murmurs,  as  he  gropes  his  way  through  a 
thicket,  his  every  muscle  quivering  under  the  lacerating 
blows  of  an  outraged  conscience. 

"But,  my  uniform,  my  uniform !— how's  that  to  be  man- 
aged? By  heavens,  what  a  fool  I  am!  That  will  expose 
me.  I  can't — but,  then  it's  too  late  now  to  go  back.  I 
must  put  it  through,  hit  or  miss.  1*11  try  and  exchange," 
said  he,  stopping  a  moment  to  take  breath,  flashes  of  antic- 
ipated success  and  clouds  of  remorse  mingled  with  fear 
alternately  flitting  athwart  the  dome  of  his  reflectives. 

Oh,  yc  venomous  worms;  ye  scaley  skinned  reptiles;  ye 
human-shaped  lizards!  think  of  the  poison  you  inject  into 
the  life  current  of  every  young  man  you  are  allowed  to 
approach.  Shall  it  be  said  that  there  is  any  future  for 
you?  No;  for  in  Heaven  you  cannot  live,  in  Hell  your 
presence  would  insult  the  meanest  devils. 

Poor  George,  finally  worn  out  with  fatigue,  unnerved  by 
fear,  pierced  to  the  quick  by  an  acute  conscience,  giddy, 
feverish,  heartsick,  was  forced  to  yield  to  natures  demands, 
sought  a  resting  place  in  a  dense  copse,  and  stretched  him- 
self out  on  the  ground,  every  bone  in  his  body  aching  and 
his  head  feeling  like  a  red  hot  caldron  of  molton  lead. 

"Who,  that  has  a  heart,  can  gaze  upon  that  picture  with- 
out being  moved  to  pity.  There  lies  a  young  man,  the 
only  son  of  a  grey-haired  father;  the  hope  of  a  fond 
mother;  the  former  pride  of  a  devoted  sister  ;  once  a  moral 
giant,  now  a  shorn  Sampson;  a  conquering  hero  in  the 
right,  a  vanquished  stripling  in  the  wrong;  a  Caesar  for  his 
country,  an  Anthony  against  it;  an  undaunted  brave  for 


THE    TEST    OP    LOYALTY.  133 

freedom,  a  trembling  coward  for  slavery;  a  young  Hercules 
in  tlie  armies  of  the  Union,  a  powerless  imbecile  in  the 
service  of  traitors.  Hover  about  him,  0,  ye  angels  of 
mercy;  pour  into  his  young  heart  the  antidote  for  the 
poison  of  treason;  apply  to  his  sick  conscience  the  balm 
of  moral  courage ;  strike  from  his  will  the  chain  forged  for 
it  by  remorseless  traitors,  and  fastened  by  a  worse  than 
fiend  incarnate;  and,  when  sleep  shall  have  restored  his 
exhausted  frame,  may  he  arise  in  the  majesty  of  his  former 
manhood  and  declare  himself  free. 

Did  we  say,  sleep?  That  groan,  those  wild  ejaculations, 
those  sudden  startings  at  some  dream-created  monster  or 
apparition,  tell  us  that,  wearied  as  he  is,  he  does  not  sleep 
tho  sleep  that  restores. 


CHAPTER    X. 


A    RAILROAD    TRir — THE    ARREST. 

"Why,  what  does  this  mean?  A  letter  from  George, 
dated  at  Evansville!"  exclaimed  Dora,  running  her  eye 
rapidly  down  the  first  page  of  an  epistle  just  from  the 
office. 

"What,  Ninnie  Hardhead  an  assistant  paymaster,  and 
for  the  Union?  Strange!  But,  this  heads  me.  George 
says  address  him  as  'Wm.  Burk.'  What's  that  for?  If 
he  is  there  on  detailed  duty,  why  is  he  not  still  George 
Clinton?  Ah !  I  see  through  it  all.  George  has  deserted  !'' 
And  tears  stood  in  her  eyes,  while  a  cloud  of  indignation 
gathered  upon  her  brow. 

"His  recent  letters  from  Yicksburg  sounded  like  deser- 
tion. .  And  why  has  he  said  so  much  of  lato  about  Ninnie? 
I'll  lay  anything,  that  whelp  has  had  a  big  finger  in  this 
afiair.  The  silly  rascal  what  does  he  mean?"  And  Dora's 
outraged  pride  spoke  in  electric  tongues  from  her  every 
feature. 

"Heah;  Miss  Dory!  A  letteh  3Iiss  Louie  send  you," 
Raid  Ned,  bowing  and  presenting  a  communication  just  re- 
ceived by  Louie  Trueman  from  Albert.  "She  say  when 
you  be  done  wid  'em  you  send  'em  back  by  me." 

"Yes,  yes.  Take  a  seat."  And  Dora  nervously  opened 
the  letter  and  read. 

"Aye!  My  suspicions  are  all  confirmed.  'George  has 
(134) 


'THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY.  135 

been  missing  over  two  weeks!'  He's  ruined f  ruined  for- 
ever!" she  muttered  in  frenzied  accents,  while  hot  tears 
fell  in  torrents  upon  the  quivering  letter,  and  her  whole 
frame  shook  from  the  smothered  fire  which,  like  the  pent 
up  flames  of  a  smouldering  volcano,  raged  in  her  bosom. 

"Here,  take  it,  Ned."  And  the  suple  African  received 
the  letter  and  made  quick  time  towards  Trueman's  residence. 

'•Is  this  true,  or  a  dream?  Is  it  7ni/  brother  that  is  so 
disgraced?  0,  God,  have  mercy!  Shall  I  answer  George? 
No.  I'll  to  Evansville  this  very  day !  N'othing  shall  hindci 
me!"  said  Dora,  literally  flying  to  her  toilet  chamber. 

"Shall  I  tell  father  and  mother?  No.  I'll  be  there  and 
back  before  they  miss  me." 

Dora  hastily  donned  her  traveling  attire,  and  without 
seeing  or  speaking  to  any  of  the  family,  hurried  to  Indian- 
apolis on  foot,  took  the  first  train  to  Terre  Haute,  and 
thence  proceeded  to  Evansville.  It  was  dark  night  when 
she  arrived  at  the  former  place,  but  what  cared  she  for 
darkness.  To  her,  there  was  no  distinction  between  night 
and  day.  The  greatest,  most  trying  task  of  her  life  was 
before  her — the  resurrection  from  the  grave  of  dishonor 
of  one  dearer  to  her  than  life.  It  must  be  done,  and  that 
speedily,  or  George's  end  would  be  that  of  a  deserter. 

The  Government  had  just  published  an  order  recjuiring 
that  all  deserters,  within  a  limited  space  of  time,  report 
themselves  for  duty  at  their  respective  regimental  head- 
quarters upon  pain  of  execution.  Several  deserters,  at 
various  points,  had  just  paid  the  penalty  of  their  crimes 
by  being  shot  to  death — Robert  Gay,  among  others,  at 
Indianapolis. 

This  was  the  second  warning  from  the  Government,  and 
the  executions  alluded  to  had  occurred  some  time  previous 
to  this,  but  the  former,  in  consequence  of  George's  trans- 


136  THE   TEST   OF    LOYALTY. 

gression,  rang  with  a  peculiar,  horrifying  shrillness  in 
Dora's  ear,  while  the  latter  presented  ghastly  pictures  of 
blood  and  infamy  to  her  highly  wrought  imagination. 

"Conductor,"  said  she,  as  that  officer  passed  along  the 
car  aisle,  "isn't  this  train  moving  at  a  very  slow  rate?" 

"Can't  run  a  night  train  any  faster,"  replied  the  conduc- 
tor, passing  hurriedly  on. 

"Oh,  horrors!  we  will  never  get  there;  and  George  may 
be  gone  before  I  get  to  see  him.  Oh,  that  I  had  the  wings 
of  the  lightning!"  exclaimed  Dora,  heaving  ar  sigh,  whose 
melancholy  thrill  communicated  itself  sympathetically  to 
every  contiguous  soul,  and  turned  many  a  pair  of  curious 
eyes  toward  her. 

"I  have  been  noticing  that  lady  all  evening,"  whispered 
a  young  man  to  his  seat-mate — a  foppish  fellow  dressed  in 
regulation,  and  bespangled  with  shining  brass  buttons, 
.apropos  of  the  brass  in  his  face. 

"  Why,  by  heavens !  I  know  her,"  returned  the  glistening 
coxcomb,  in  his  softest,  lowest  tones.  "She's  an  old  flame 
of  mine.  Better  not  let  her  hear  you  say  anything  aginst 
the  Government,  for  she's  an  abolitionist,  and  as  fiery  as 
the  devil." 

"Do  you  say?" 

"Yes — but,  I  wonder  what's  takins;  her  alous:  this  line 
to-night.  Something  up,  by  Ned!  "Would  you  like  to 
have  an  introduction?" 

"  Of  course." 

"  Come  along."   And  the  twain  rose  and  approached  Dora. 

"Miss  Clinton,  I — eh — have  the — eh — honor — the — eh 
pleasure  of — eh — intro — eh — ducing,  Mr, — eh — Mr,  Froth- 
ingale." 

Dora  started  at  the  unexpected  sound  of  that  voice, 
turned   her    eyes    toward   the    intruder,  and   imagine  her 


THE    TEST   OF    LOYALTY,  137 

a-stonishment  at  beholding  Ninnie  Hardhead,  standing  be- 
fore her  dressed  in  army  regulation.  On  no  other  occasion 
during  her  life  had  she  felt  so  completely  at  a  loss  to  know 
how  to  demean  herself.  Mr.  Frothingale  might  be  a  re- 
spectable young  man,  and  if  so  he  should  be  respectfully 
treated.  As  for  Hardhead  she  knew  too  much  of  his 
hypocrasy  to  be  deceived  by  blue  cloth  and  brass  buttons. 
A  moments  reflection,  however,  decided  her  course. 

"Good  evening,  Mr.  Frothingale,"  said  she.  "But, 
gentlemen,  I  am  sorry  to  tell  you  that,  for  the  present,  I 
would  be  excused  from  the  task  of  entertaining  any  body. 
My  mind  is  in  no  condition  for  it." 

"Perhaps, — eh — perhaps,  Miss  Clinton,  we  can — eh — 
relieve  your — eh — " 

"Enough,  sir!"  interrupted  Dora,  loosing  all  patience 
with  the  impudent  Ninnie.     "Leave  me!" 

"By  thunder!"  said  Frothingale,  in  low  tones,  as  the 
worthy  (?)  pair  resumed  their  seats,  "she  is  somewhat  out- 
spoken, aint  she?" 

"The  very  devil!"  returned  Hardhead.  "I  thought  I 
saw  hell  in  her  eye,  so  soon  as  she  recognized  me.  But, 
never  let  on."  And  he  bit  his  lip  in  his  snjothered  rage^ 
and  shook  his  head,  as  much  as  to  say:  "I'll  fix  her  jet." 

"So,  then,  he  is  a  paymaster,  hey?  God  preserve  the 
Government  from  such  paymasters!"  said  Dora,  audibly, 
after  she  had  ridden  herself  of  the  nuisance.  "  Wonder 
how  he  got  in.  Didn't  the  Government  know  he  is  a 
traitor;  reccon  it's  another  effort  to  conciliate  the  Democ- 
racijl  A  few  such  as  he  will  do  the  Union  cause  more 
harm  than  a  brigade  of  Southern  traitors.  Heavens!  what 
mockery  that  he  should  wear  a  patriot's  uniform,"  her 
indignation  kindling  until  it  almost  superseded  her  grief^ 


138  THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY. 

and  she  felt  like  going  right  up  and  stripping  him  of  the 
insignia  he  so  foully  disgraced. 

The  train  moved  on  at  fair  speed,  reaching  Evansville 
sometime  after  midnight.  As  the  shrill  scream  of  the 
whistle  announced  the  near  approach  to  the  depot,  Dora 
began  to  wonder  how  she  was  to  ascertain  George's  where- 
abouts. In  the  town  she  could  think  of  no  one  she  knew, 
and  if  she  knew  ever  so  many,  it  was  a  question  whether 
they  could  afford  the  information  she  desired.  She  had 
not  the  least  doubt  that  young  Hardhead  could  furnish  it, 
but  it  was  very  unlikely  that  he  would  to  gratify  her,  even 
though  his  life  depended  on  it. 

"What  shall  I  do?"  said  she,  as  she  alighted  from  the 
train.  "Have  I  done  right,  or  wrong?  All  the  way  here 
alone.  No  one  to  tell  me  anything," — looking  anxiously 
around. 

"But  I  must  be  resolute."  And  she  stepped  inside  a 
buss  and  was  soon  whirling  up  one  of  the  avenues  of  the 
Crescent  City,  to  a  hotel. 

"Is  this  the  house?"  asked  she  of  the  driver,  as  he 
helped  her  out  on  the  pavement,  and  handed  her  her  car- 
pet-bag. 

"Yis  'em,  this  'ere's  the  place." 

"Not  a  very  imposing  looking  edifice — but  what  care  I?" 

"Great  God!"  said  a  hardy,  tanned  young  man,  standing 
near  the  house.  "That  voice!  I  know  it,  surely" — ap- 
proaching so  close  that  Dora  caught  his  eye. 

"George!" 

"Hush!"  said  he,  in  a  sharp  whisper,  coming  up  and 
taking  her  hand.  "You  must  not  call  me  George.  I'll  be 
exposed.     That's  not  my  name  here." 

Dora  took  the  hint,  and  said  no  more,  but  took  a  firm 


THE   TEST   OF    LOYALTY.  159 

grasp  on  his  arm,  led  him  aside,  and  said:  "  You  must  go 
with  me  to  a  private  room." 

"•No!  People  will  talk  about  you,  Dora,  and  I'll  be 
exposed  to  danger.     It  will  attract — " 

"Never  mind  the  talk.  My  good  name  is  worth  no 
more  than  yours,  nor  half  so  much  to  me.  And  I  may 
save  you  rather  than  expose  you." 

Georcre  was  thrilled  with  a  feelino;  he  had  never  known 
before.  His  sister,  inexperienced  in.  travel,  unattended, 
had  exposed  herself  to  the  taunts  of  the  fastidious,  the 
insults  of  ruffians,  the  suspicion  of  all,  in  a  bold  effort  to 
save  him.  Her  purity,  bravery,  devotion,  as  pre-eminently 
exhibited  on  this  occasion,  inspired  him  with  a  new  admi- 
ration of  her  noble  qualities,  but  shamed  him  to  the  lowest 
degree  of  self-abasement  when  he  thought  how  unworthy 
he  was  of  the  love  and  watch- care  of  such  a  sister. 

Exists  there  on  earth,  a  thing  so  unselfish,  so  pure,  so 
holy,  so  ennobling  as  a  sister's  love?  Think  of  it,  ye 
spiders  in  human  form,  when  you  weave  your  deceptious 
webs  to  ensnare  the  unwary  feet  of  a  susceptible  brother. 
Know  that  the  venom  with  vfhich  you  would  poison  his 
affections,  his  motives,  shall  be  sympathetically  transfused 
into  the  heart  of  his  sister;  that  in  striking  him  you  strike 
her;  that  in  his  sickness  she  is  sick;  in  his  disgrace  she 
is  dishonored;  in  his  death  she  dies. 

George  felt  that  he  could  resist  any  other  influence  than 
that  of  I>ora ;  and  pale,  trembling,  submissive  as  a  child, 
he,  who  had  fearlessly  faced  showers  of  cannon  balls,  thou- 
sands of  flashing  bayonets,  directed  by  the  clerk,  followed 
his  sister  to  a  private  room  in  the  hotel. 

"You  see,  I  don't  stop  here,  Dora.     Too  public." 

"How  came  you  below,  then?" 

"Well — I — I  was  waitinsf  to  see  a  friend." 


140  THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY. 

"What  friend?' 

"0,  a  fellow  that  boards  up  town." 

''Boards  up  town,  ha!  Didn't  he  come  in  on  the  train 
with  me?" 

Greorge's  confusion  choked  his  utterance,  and  he  sought 
to  evade  the  question  by  an  affected  fit  of  coughing. 

"A  knock  at  the  door,"  said  George,  rising  and  looking 
anxiously  about  for  some  convenient  way  of  escape. 

"Never  mind  the  knock,"  replied  Dora,  rising.  "I 
know  'the  way  of  the  transgressor  is  hard,'  but  the  inno- 
cent fear  nothing;"  and  she  advanced  to  the  door  and  threw 
it  wide  open. 

"Hold  !  hold!"  cried  George.     "I  am— I—" 

"Halo,  George!  my  good  fellow!  AVhat's  the  matter?" 
And  Ninnie  Hardhead  strode  boldly  into  the  room,  not 
observing  Dora  the  while,  w^ho  stood  behind  the  door  until 
he  came  in. 

"I  had  nc  idea,  George,  of  your  taking  rooms  here  to- 
night. Are  you  safe  in  this  place,  my  boy?  I — thunder 
and  lighting!  Dora  here!  The  clerk  didn't  tell  me  you 
had  company.     I'll — I'll  retire." 

"Not  until  icc'i-e  settled,"  exclaimed  Dora,  turning  the 
key  and  slipping  it  into  her  pocket. 

"What!  lock  me  in!  Ill  see!"  shouted  Hardhead, 
drawing  a  revolver. 

"You  vile  worm  of  the  dust!  you  foul  traitor!  think 
you  that  I  am  afraid  of  your  pistol?  You  haven't  the 
nerve  to  point  it." 

"We'll  see,"  responded  Hardhead,  raising  his  weapon. 

"And  we  will  see!"  shouted  George,  at  the  top  of  his 
voice,  rushing  upon  Ninnie,  wrenching  the  pistol  from  his 
grasp,  and  bringing  him  to  the  floor  with  a  crash,  "Now 
say  one  word,  and  I'll  blow  you  to — " 


THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY.  141 

"I  was  only  try — eli — trying  to  sea — eli — scare  her, 
G— George,"  wliined  the  cowed  Ninnie,  looking  up  into 
George's  face,  like  a  whipped  spaniel. 

"You  scoundrel!  Up  and  off!"  rejoined  George,  loosing 
his  hold,  taking  the  key  from  Dora  and  unlocking  the 
door,  which  opportunity  of  escape  was  hurriedly  improved. 

"Now,"  said  George,  despondingly,  "I'm  ruined." 

"What  now?" 

"Why,  Ninnie  will  go  straight  and  expose  me,"  mur- 
mured he,  hurying  his  face  in  his  hands. 

Dora  at  once  understood  and  appreciated  her  unhappy 
brother's  condition.  She  knew  that  young  Hardhead  had 
influenced  him  to  desert.  She  also  knew  that  Ninnie  was 
treacherous,  cowardly,  and  revengeful;  that  he  had  the 
advantage  of  George  in  position,  and  would  not  fail  to  use 
that  advantage  against  him,  now  that  he  had  suffered  such 
humiliation  at  his  hands. 

She  now  loved  her  brother  more  than  ever,  notwithstand- 
ing his  high  crime,  because  he  had  not  merely  shown  him- 
self brave  and  prompt  in  her  defense,  but  had  risked  ex- 
posure and  public  disgrace,  through  Ninnie's  treachery, 
for  her.  She,  therefore,  immediately  set  her  wits  to  work 
to  devise  some  means  of  saving  him. 

And  it  may  be  regarded  as  a  general  tr^th  that  what 
woman's  fertility  of  resources,  on  occasions  of  this  kind, 
cannot  accomplish,  is  unattainable. 

"Dora,  I  feel  as  though  I  couldn't  stay  here  another 
minute,  and  yet  I  don't  want  to  leave  you.  I  may  be  ar- 
rested at  any  moment,"  said  George,  moving  uneasily  about 
the  room. 

"Be  easy,  brother,  be  easy.  I  have  thought  of  some- 
thing." 

"What?" 


142  THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY. 

"Have  you  not  some  of  Ninnie's  letters  in  your  posses- 
sion^?" 

"I  have;  but  what  good  will  tliey  do  me?" 

"They  will  save  you,  or  at  least  mitigate  your  punish- 
ment, provided  they  be  properly  managed." 

"They  may  mitigate — hardly  save  me.  But  the  idea  of 
tlie  arrest." 

"Bad  enough,  George;  but  you  have  gone  so  far  that 
yon  may  look  for  that." 

George,  now  began  to  realize,  fully,  the  critical  condition 
in  which  he  had  placed  himself.  He  had  once  a  powerful, 
a  sure  protector,  his  Government;  but  had  left  that  pro- 
tector and  had  thrown  himself  upon  the  mercies  of  a  weak, 
treacherous  scape-grace,  and  a  few  others  of  like  character, 
Ninnie's  political  friends.  He  trembled  at  the  thought  of 
his  condition. 

While  Dora  and  her  brother  were  yet  talking,  a  sharp  rap 
at  the  dooT  startled  them — a  Tap  which  sounded  to  George 
like  his  death  knell.  The  door  was  opened  and  in  stepped 
Ninnie  and  another  young  officer. 

"Your  name  Clinton?" 

"It  is,"  replied  George,  his  fear  having  given  place  to 
the  courage  of  desperation. 

"I  order  you  under  arrest.  Follow!"  commanded  the 
officer  in  stern  tones. 

"And  I,"  cried  Dora,  "go  with  him." 

"Who  are  you,  miss?" 

"His  sister." 

"I  suppsse  you  are,  from  what  I  hear  (?)" 

"Dare  to  insult  her,"  said  George,  presenting  his  cap- 
tured revolver,  "and,  officer  as  you  ar<j,  I'll  blow  you 
throufrh," 


THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY.  143 

"  Better  keep  quiet,  young  man.  It  will  go  hard  enougk 
with  you,  any  how." 

"  Give  me  the  pistol,  brother,  and  be  you  silent.  I'll 
defend  myself."  And  Dora  took  the  weapon  into  her  own 
possession. 

"Madam,"  said  the  officer  more  politely,  "it  is  very 
la-te,  and  if  you  would  be  safe,  you  must  remain  here." 

"On  one  condition  I  will,"  said  Dora,  thoughtfully. 

"What?" 

"  That  you  tell  me  where  I  may  find  him  in  the  morn- 
ing." 

"  Certainly.  You  will  find  him  in  the  lock-up.  Any- 
body can  tell  you  where  it  is." 

And  the  officer  proceeeded  with  his  prisoner,  accom- 
panied by  Ninnie,  to  the  place  of  confinement  designated, 
leaving  Dora  alone, 

Xo  words  can  describe  the  complicated  character  of 
Dora's  feelings  as  she  turned  the  bolt  of  her  bed  room 
door,  and  threw  herself  upon  her  couch.  In  a  strange 
city.  No  one  to  protect  her,  at  a  public  house,  slandered 
by  the  pusillanimous  Xinnie,  insulted  by  an  officer.  But 
even  these  were  as  trifling  matters  compared  with  the  pain 
she  sufi'ered  on  account  of  George's  misfortunes.  He  had 
been  persuaded  to  violate  his  obligation  to  his  country; 
had  been  betrayed,  and  was  now  upon  the  mercy  of  the 
Government.  He  might  escape  the  full  penalty  of  the 
law,  but  dishonor,  foul  and  lasting,  he  could  not  escape. 

And  when  Dora  thought  of  the  causes  which  led  to  this, 
the  greatest  misfortune  of  her  life  ;  when  she  reflected  that 
those  who  had  played  the  dark  parts  in  this  tragedy  had 
done  it  in  the  guise  of  friendship,  had  for  years  been  the 
recipients  of  her  father's  patronage  and  her  own  kindness, 
she  felt  a  thirst  for  vengeance-  she  had  never  before  expe- 


144  THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY. 

rienced.  In  vain  were  her  repeated  efforts  to  compose  her 
agitated  mind  in  sleep.  Her  throbbing  temples  and  swol- 
len eyes  indicated  that  feverish  excitement  of  the  brain 
which  will  not  allow  of  the  approaches  of  Morpheus,  but 
which,  supplying  an  extraordinary  stimulous  to  a  fatigued 
nervous  system,  supports  it  through  an  almost  infinite 
scries  of  wearying  efforts. 


CHAPTER  XIII 


THE    EVIL    BROUGHT    HOME. 

"Emancipation's  played  out,  old  woman.  We'll  never 
take  Vicksburg,"  said  Mr.  Clinton  to  his  wife,  elevating 
his  glasses,  and  throwing  a  fumbled  copy  of  the  Cincinnati 
Enquirer  aside.  "The  nigger  proclamation  has  killed 
us." 

"I'm  not  a  thinkin  so  much  about  Vicksburg,  nor  nig- 
gers, nuther,  as  I  am  about  Dory.  I'm  a  gittin  raal  oneasy 
'bout  her.     What  on  airth's  she  after?" 

"This  is  a  strange  dido  of  her's.  But  a  man  told  me. 
yesterday,  he  saw  her  get  on  the  train  for  Terre  Haute. 
If  we  don't  hear  from  her  soon,  we'll  telegraph.*' 

"Yes,  we  kin  telegram — that's  the  latest  fashion  o'  sayin 
it.     But,  as  I  live,  that's  her  a  comin  now." 

It  was  now  about  five  o'clock  of  the  second  day  follow- 
ing Dora's  embarkation  for  Evansville;  and  never  before 
had  her  parents  realized  so  fully  what  it  was  for  her  to  be 
absent.  Her  errand  had  been  a  matter  of  exciting  curi- 
osity to  the  family  at  home.  All  sorts  of  reasons  for  her 
unaccountable  disappearance  had  been  conjured  up;  fears 
for  her  safety,  hopes  of  her  return,  prayers  for  her  protec- 
tion, had,  during  her  absence,  constantly  succeeded  each 
other;  and  now  that  her  graceful  form  and  agile  step  were 
recognized  in  the  distance,  emotions,  rapturous  unspeakable, 
10  (145) 


146  THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY. 

thrilled  the  hearts  of  her  aged  parents,  and  carried  th«m 
back,  for  the  moment,  several  years  toward  the  period  of 
their  prime. 

"Well,  well,  my  luII,  I  had  a  hii?  ficoldin  laid  up  for 
you,  but  I'ra  bo  glad  to  see  you,  that  I  can't  say  nothin," 
•exclaimed  Mrs.  Clin' on.  meeting  Dora  at  the  gate,  embra- 
cing her,  and  imprinting  a  mother's  kiss  upon  her  flushed 
cheek. 

"But,  come,"  said  she,  following  her  daughter  into  the 
house,  "you  must  tell,  in  the  name  o'  goodness,  what 
you've  been  a  doin." 

Dora,  after  greeting  and.  kissing  her  father,  entered  upon 
a  full  detail  of  the  causes  and  results  of  her  errand,  and 
wound  up  by  saying: 

"  George  is  now  in  the  city  jail,  awaiting  his  trial  by 
court  martial." 

"What!  In  the  jail!  '  vociferated  Mr.  Clinton,  starting 
from  his  seat,  staring  wildly  at  Dora,  wliile  every  fibre  ^f 
his  system  quivered  with  the  shock  of  the  unexpected 
intelligence. 

"Awful  sakes  alive  !  My  boy  !  my  poor  boy!  to  be  shot 
as  a  deserter!"  cried  the  old  lady,  fairly  going  into  tan- 
trums. 

"Yes,  perhaps;  but  you  need  not  blame  the  boy.  I 
have  the  proofs  to  show  the  real  criminal  in  the  case." 

And  Dora  opened  George's  portfolio,  which  she  had 
secured  and  brought  from  Evansville,  opened  and  read  a 
number  of  Ninnie  Hardhead's  letters  to  her  brother.  The 
surprise,  the  indignation,  the  horror,  which  possessed  the 
breasts  of  the  parents  upon  hearing  these  letters — sur- 
passed in  intensity  .any  feeling  which  had  ever  occupied 
them.  Mr.  Clinton,  as  c-ertain  religionists  say,  felt  an 
awakening;  and,  all  at  once,  it  occurred  to  him  that  some 


THE   TEST   OP    LOYALTY.  147 

of  his  own  epistles  to  George,  during  his  first  oampaign, 
had,  at  least  to  some  extent,  prepared  the  way  for  those  of 
Ninnie — the  precipitators  of  his  son's  ruin.  Can  pen 
describe,  or  tongue  express  the  remorse,  the  humiliation, 
the  grief,  of  that  frail  old  man,  who  now,  within  a  few 
years  of  the  grave,  felt  that  his  life's  decline  was  to  be 
embittered  by  his  only  son's  untimely,  dishonorable  end, 
or,  if  George  should  be  spared,  by  an  heir  who,  with  the 
blood  of  his  ancestry,  would  inherit  to  his  latest  day,  the 
black,  indellible  brand  of — deserter  1 

0,  ye  soulless  vipers,  who  essay  to  wind  your  deceptions 
coils  around  susceptible  youth,  and  fasten  your  honor- 
blackening  fangs  upon  its  vital  center;  ye  scribes  of  hell, 
who  would,  with  pens  of  demon's  claws,  dipped  in  the  ven- 
omed  ink  of  treason,  scrawl  and  blot  the  unwritten  pages 
of  youthful  character,  behold  here,  in  this  heart-broken 
old  man,  a  specimen  of  your  work !  A  gray-haired  pioneer 
of  the  West,  whose  life's  prime  was  given  to  laying  here 
the  foundations  of  civilization,  now,  after  a  life  of  toil  to 
secure  a  competence  for  himself  and  family,  feels  that  in 
the  sepulchre  of  his  boy's  honor  is  buried  the  brightest 
hope  for  which  he  lived.  Hear  that  groan,  which  echoes 
through  every  apartment  of  the  old  mansion,  as  the  old 
man  abstractly  murmurs:  "I'm  to  blame,  too;  I'm  to 
blame." 

Strange  to  say,  Mr.  Clinton  could  not  see  that  the  spirit 
which  inspired  Ninnie  Hardhead  with  his  destructive  de- 
signs, was  the  all-pervading  principle  of  the  party  leaders 
in  whose  wake  he  had  followed.  He  could  only  regard  it 
as  having  a  personal  origin. 

While  it  is  true  that  Ninnie  had  been,  in  great  part, 
stimulated  by  a  desire  to  either  win  or  destroy  Dora,  yet 


148  THE   TEST    OP    LOYALTY. 

this  desire  may  be  regarded  as  the  creature  of  that  school 
of  politicians  whoso  motto  is,  "rule  or  ruin." 

"Dick!'  called  Mr.  Clinton.  "The  horses  and  carriage, 
quick!" 

The  order  was  rapidly  obeyed,  and  in  little  more  than 
half  an  hour,  George's  mother,  father,  and  sister,  were 
with  him. 

What  must  have  been  his  feelings  at  his  parents'  ap- 
proach? What  a  contrast  between  George  Clinton,  the 
West  Virginia  hero,  and  George  Clinton,  the  deserter  I 
What  had  he  to  say?  Nothing.  He  could  think  of  no- 
thing, such  was  his  grief  and  confusion.  But  he  could 
weep,  and  sigh,  and  groan.  He  could  experience  tortures 
of  the  soul,  such  as  he  had  not  conceived  it  possible  for 
human  beings  to  endure.  And  how  of  the  mother  and 
father?     Language  fails.     Let  us  withdraw  from  the  scene. 

We  pass  a  number  of  outlaws — hardened  criminals  prom- 
enading on  the  damp,  stone  floor,  outside  their  cells. 
What,  are  they  susceptible?  So  it  would  seem;  for,  glis- 
t-ening  in  the  faint  light  of  the  prison,  is  visible  a  tear  in 
almost  every  eye.  We  come  to  the  outer  jail  door  that 
opens  into  the  turnkey's  room.  There  stands  a  hard  faced 
fellow — countenance  a  nondescript,  trying  to  whistle  Yan- 
kee Doodle;  and  we  would  suppose  from  his  features  that 
he  never  knew  either  sympathy  or  sorrow.  Who  is  he? 
Ninnie  Hardhead.  We  stop  here  a  moment.  Presently 
we  see,  through  the  grate,  coming  out  of  the  prison  at  a 
slow  pace,  leaning  forward  upon  his  staff,  an  old  man  sup- 
porting an  aged  woman,  whose  face  is  covered  with  her 
handkerchief.  Who  are  they?  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clinton. 
They  are  closely  followed  by  Dora,  whose  eyes  are  in- 
flamed and  swollen  from  excessive  fatigue  and  weeping. 
The  turnkey  swings  back  the  great  iron  door,  and  they 


THE  TEST   OF   LOYALTT.  149 

pass  out  toward  us.  They  are  ten  years  nearer  tlie  graye 
than  they  were  yesterday.  But-do  we  believe  our  eyes? 
the  infamous  Ninnie  is  grinning  like  a  demoniac  ape,  m 

Dora's  face. 

"  My  revenge,  miss,"  in  an  under  tone. 

"Scoundrel,  off!"  and  Dora  starts  toward  him. 
■  What,  does  he  run  from  her?  Yes.  One  brave,  loyal 
woman  can  chase  a  thousand  xNorthern  traitors,  at  any  time, 
to  their  dens.  An  hour  later  finds  Dora  and  her  parents 
at  home-sleeping?  No.  Morpheus  ventures  not  to  m- 
trude,  and  grief  reigns  supreme  for  the  night. 


CHAPTER  XIV 


THE   SPIDER   CAUGHT   IN    HIS    OWN   WEB. 

"Vicksburgis  taken!"  exclaimed  Louie  Trueman  to  her 
sister,  as  she  came   dancing  into  the  reception  room  of  her 
Hoosier  cottage  home,  waving  above  her  head  the  morning 
paper. 
•     ''Oh!  is  it?— Glorious!" 

"Yes,"  said  Mrs.  Trueman,  laying  aside  her  sewing  and 
taking  the  paper  from  Louie,  "but  we  will  not  rejoice  too 
much  until  we  hear  from  your  father  and  Albert. 

"Why,  it  seems  that  we  are  behind  the  times.  Yicks- 
burg  was  taken  on  the  fourth,  and  this  is  now  the  seventh — 
time  enough,  nearly,  to  hear  from  our  folks.  Ah,  Ned, 
you  bring  a  letter."  And  laying  aside  the  paper,  she  tore 
open  the  envelope,  and  read. 

"From  father?"  asked  Jennie. 

"No.  From  Albert;  dated  the  first;  says  Vicksburg 
will  soon  fall,  and  then  they  will  try  for  a  furlough  to 
come  home." 

"Poor  Cousin  George,  how  much  glory  he  has  lost!" 
exclaimed  Louie,  sighing.  "How  will  he  feel  when  he 
hears  the  news?" 

"Yes,  poor  fellow!  and  he's  to  be  tried  for  desertion  to- 
morrow."    And  the  joy  over  the  splendid  victory  at  Vicks- 

(150^ 


THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY.  151 

burg  was  dampened  by  the  thought  of  the  unhappy  cousin's 

fate      Neither  bliss  nor  sorrow  often  come  unmixed. 

"To-morrow,  Jennie?"  asked  Louie.    "Isn't  it  to-day?" 
"I  believe  it  is,  sister,  sure  enough.     And  we  promised 

to  meet  Uncle's  folks  in  town,  and  attend  the  trial." 

"I'll  go  with  you  girls;  but  I  very  much  doubt  your 

attending   the    trial.      Military    is   military,"    said    Mrs. 

Trueman.  _,  ,  t      -^ 

"Dora  will  be  apt  to  get  in,  I  think,"    returned  Louie. 

"She'll  have  Z)«smess  there." 

The  Truemans  had  not  yet  become  able  to  purchase  a 
earriacre,  but  they  had  a  horse,  and,  borrowing  a  vehicle  of 
a  neighbor,  they  were  soon  on  their  way  to  the  city,  Ned 
actino-  in  the  capacity  of  driver. 

On'reaching  town  and  turning  up  an  avenue^  they  were 
agreeably  surprised  by  the  Clinton  carriage  which,  turning 
into  the  avenue  at  right  angles,  met  them. 

-Good  morning,"  said  all  at  once,  sadness  mantling 
every  countenance. 

"Dick!"  exclaimed  Dora,  somewhat  uneasily,  'drive 
faster,  we  shall  be  late  I  fear." 

Dick  replied  by  a  crack  of  his  whip,  and  the  carriage 
rolled  up  the  street  at  a  greatly  increased  speed,  Trueman  s 
following  closely  in  the  rear. 

There  was,  notwithstanding  the  rapidity  with  which  they 
moved,  a  gloomy  solemnity  about  ,h..c  vehicles  akin  to 
that  of  a  funeral  train.     Few  were  the  words  tha    were 
spoken,  and  every  heart  was  beating  at  an  -nu.u.1  rat. 
while  nearly  every  breath  wa.  a  sigh.     Every  mmd  was 
occupied  with  its  own  reflections,  yet  all  absorbed  m  one 
sad  thought.     While  some  were  despondent,  others  hope- 
ful  there  was  but  one  of  the  entire  company  who  had  any 
practical  scheme  of  operetions,  looking  to  the  solution  ot 


152  THE    TEST    (»F    l.«  .V.\  I.TY. 

the  great  question:  How  can  Georj^e  be  saved?  That  one 
was  Dora,  who  had  in  her  possession  nearly  all  the  treason- 
able letters  written  by  Ninnie  to  the  accused.  With  these 
she  hoped  to  at  least  modify  her  brother's  punishment; 
and  should  she  fail  in  that,  of  one  thing  she  was  sure — 
she  would  condemn  Hardhead,  and  bring  him  to  the  just 
Dunishment  of  his  sins. 

"This  is  the  place,"  said  she,  as  they  drew  up  in  front 
of  the  court  chamber,  which  was  in  the  second  story  of  a 
large  brick,  and  scarcely  had  the  carriage  stopped,  when, 
witl'out  waiting  assistance,  she  leaped  upon  the  pavement 
and  started  up  stairs. 

"I  hardly  think,"  said  Mrs.  Trueman,  '-that  we  shall 
gain  admission,  even  if  Dora  should." 

Meanwhile  the  latter  was  tripping  up  the  steps  uncon- 
scious of  anything  that  was  being  said  or  done  about  her. 

"What  will  the  lady  have?"  courteously  inquired  a 
young  soldier,  standing  at  the  head  of  the  stairs. 

"  I  would  be  admitted  to  the  court-martial,  if  you  please." 

"On  what  business?" 

"To  attend  the  trial  of  George  Clinton,"  replied  she,  in 
clear,  round  tones. 

"That  is  over,  and  sentence  passed." 

"What!  of  death?"  and  Dora's  lips  quivered,  while  a 
glassy  film  gathered  over  Ker  eyes. 

"Yes,  mam,  I  am  sorry  to  say,"  replied  the  soldier  in 
tender  tones,  observing  Dora's  emotions. 

"0,  God,  have  mercy!  Lost!  lost!"  cried  the  heart- 
pierced  sister,  almost  dropping  to  the  floor. 

The  soldier,  whose  course  blue  jacket  encased  as  manly 
a  heart  as  ever  throbbed  in  human  breast,  was  sympatheti- 
cally touched,  and  while   tears  trickled  down  his  bronzed 


THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY.  153 

cheeks  he  extended  Dora  a  supporting  hand,  and  said: 
"He  may  not  have  to  die.     Government  may  pardon  him." 

"Oh,  is  there  hope?"  said  she,  taking  courage.  "But — 
those  letters!  I  was  about  to  forget  them.  Sir,  will  you 
please  present  these  to  the  court-martial?" 

"With  pleasure,"'  replied  the  soldier,  "that  is,  I  will  have 
it  done,"  and  he  opened  the  door  and  handed  in  the  docu- 
ments, with  instructions  as  to  whom  they  were  directed. 

Dora  waited  but  a  moment  or  two,  when  she  heard, 
in  the  chamber,  a  general  moving  about,  and  the  door 
swinging  open,  her  presence  was  requested.  Eagerly  she 
complied. 

"Madam,  your  name,  if  you  please,"  said  the  presi'dent 
of  the  court. 

"Dora  Clinton,  George's  sister,"  she  replied,  summoning 
all  the  dignity  at  her  command. 

"How  came  you  by  these  letters?" 

Dora  replied  by  relating  the  circumstances  under  which 
she  obtained  the  papers,  with  a  boldness  and  clearness 
which  inspired  the  court  with  a  high  degree  of  confidence. 
The  president  becoming  unusually  interested  in  Dora, 
owing  to  her  candor,  refinement  and  scholarly  attainments, 
detained  her  by  requesting  a  full  history  of  young  Hard- 
head. To  this  task  she  proceeded  most  cheerfully,  giving 
not  only  his  character,  but  lii.«  origin. 

"You  will  please  remain,  Misa  Clinton,"  said  the  presi- 
dent, "until  Hardhead  is  brought  in."  And  an  officer 
was  immediately  ordered  to  arrest  Ninnie  and  bring  him  to 
court. 

The  officer  was  gone  but  a  short  time,  when  he  returned, 
bringing  with  him  the  treacherous  Ninnie,  who  pale  and 
trembling  with  fear,  entered  the  room,  and  starting  at  the 
unexpected  sight  of  Dora,  shrank  back  and  would  have 


154  THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY. 

retired  very  hurriedly    had  it  not  been   for   the  rallying 
power  of  the  one  who  had  him  in  custody. 

"Here,  sir,"  said  the  president,  "you  arc  the  young  man 
who  was  so  ready  to  condemn  another,  what  have  you  to 
say  for  yourself?"  And  the  clerk  was  requested  to  read 
the  letters  presented  by  Dora. 

During  the  reading  of  these  epistles.  Ninnie's  color  came 
and  went  with  the  rapidity  of  lightning,  while  his  bodily 
contortions  and  squirmings  told  more  clearly  than  language 
could,  his  guilt. 

The  whole  matter  took  him  by  surprise.  It  was  some- 
thing for  which  he  had  made  no  preparation.  He  had  not 
presumed  those  pen  and  ink  witnesses  would  ever  appear 
against  him.  It  had  been  his  intention  to  slip  George  back 
into  the  service  in  case  the  latter  had  succeeded  in  over- 
coming Dora's  hatred  toward  hiiu.  But  he  had  been  too 
much  of  a  Kinnie  to  provide  for  the  destruction  of  the 
correspondence  between  him  and  George,  in  c-ase  of  failure 
in  that  direction — most  unfortunate  for  him  but  fortunate 
for  the  Government,  for  the  right. 

"What  am  I  to  do?"  thought  he.  "Ah!  I'll  deny  every- 
thing. That's  my  father's  motto  when  he  sees  a  case  in 
court  clearly  against  him." 

"What  say  you,  sir?"  asked  the  presidenfcoolly,  look- 
ing Ninnie  full  in  the  face. 

"  I — eh — I — eh — nev — eh — er  wr — wr — o — te  a  word  of 
it,  sir  !"  stammered  Hardhead,  averting  his  countenance, 
and  trying  to  conceal  the  guilt,  which,  although  denied  in 
words,  confessed  itself  involuntarily  in  the  muscles  of  his 
face.  Hypocrasy  controls  no  ather  member  of  the  body  so 
well  as  it  does  the  tongue. 

"  It  will  require  something  more  than  a  mere  denial  to- 
refute  this  testimony,"  said  the  president,  sternly." 


THE  TEST   OP    LOYALTY.  155 

The  treasonable  letters  were  now  compared  with  certain 
military  documents  written  by  Ninnie,  and  the  handwriting 
was  found  to  be  identical. 

Who  can  pity  the  cowardly  villain  as  the  president  orders 
him  to  be  stripped  of  the  insignia  of  his  rank,  and  placed 
in  confinement? 

"3/y  revenge!"  said  Dora,  to  the  miserable  traitor,  as  he 
passed  her,  led  by  a  blue  jacket,  on  his  way  to  jail.  His 
only  reply  was  a  fiendish  frown,  accompanied  by  an  attempt 
at  a  defiant  grunt. 

"There,  now,"  whispered  Dora,  to  herself,  as  she  neared 
the  court-room  door  to  watch  his  passage  down  stairs,  "if 
€feorge  does  have  to  die,  you  shall  partly  pay  for  it." 

"  Miss  Clinton  will  please  remain  a  moment,"  requested 
the  president,  and  Dora  turned  and  approached  his  honor. 

"  These  letters,"  continued  he,  "  throw  a  new  light  upon 
your  unfortunate  brother's  case.  The  time  fixed  for  his 
execution  is  a  week  from  to-morrow.  What  you  have  just 
furnished  us  shall  be  immediately  communicated  to  the 
Government,  and  the  President  may  pardon." 

"Thank  you  !  thank  you  !"  exclaimed  Dora,  in  heartfelt 
earnestness,  while  tears  of  gratitude,  more  eloquent  than 
words,  stood  in  her  eyes. 

"  Oh,  if  poor  George's  life  can  only  be  saved,"  mur- 
mured she,  taking  her  leave,  and  descending  to  the  street, 
"  he  may,  in  time,  at  least  partially  wipe  this  foul  stain 
from  his  character." 

Stepping  out  on  the  pavement,  she  found  that  her  friends 
had  all  gone.  The  excitement  of  the  past  two  hours  had 
obliterated  time  so  far  as  her  perceptives  were  concerned, 
and  she  had  not  the  least  idea  how  long  her  kin  had 
awaited  her  appearance. 

"  Well,  I  must  find  them,"  said  she.     "  The  news  is  too 


156  THE   TEST    OF   LOYALTY. 

good  to  keep."  And  she  went  tripping  along  the  street, 
with  a  heart  much  lighter  than  when  she  entered  the  court- 
martial,  peeping  inquisitively  into  every  trading  house  she 
passed. 

"Ah,  here  they  are,"  she  said,  turning  into  a  retail  dry- 
goods  establishment. 

"Well,  and  what  about  the  trial?"  eagerly  inquired 
3Irs.  Clinton,  monopolizing  Dora's  attention.  The  question 
was  answered  by  a  full  account  of  all  the  incidents  attend- 
ing the  visit  to  the  court-martial. 

The  intelligence  was  not  so  gratifying  to  the  distressed 
mother  as  it  might  have  been,  but  fully  as  favorable  as  she 
expected.  A  week's  time,  Ninnie's  letters,  Dora's  vigilance 
and  industry — which  elements  in  her  daughter's  character, 
Mrs.  Clinton  had  learned  to  prize  very  highly — might  effect 
much,  and  a  ray  of  hope — the  anchor  of  life — penetrated 
the  agloomed  soul  of  the  frail  old  woman. 

A  little  time  spent  in  shopping,  and  then  a  visit  to 
George,  who  was  overjoyed  to  hear  of  young  Hardhead's 
arrest  and  imprisonment,  and  the  Truemans  and  Clintons 
were  on  their  way  home,  some  doubting,  some  hoping, 
some  speculating,  but  Dora  thinking,  scheming. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


A  DARK  FORENOON — A  BRIGHT  AFTERNOON. 

"The  last  day,  and  still  no  pardon,"  murmured  Dora, 
despondently,  as  she  threw  on  her  summer  shawl  and 
started  for  her  horse,  which  stood*  ready  at  the  gate,  to 
carry  her  to  her  uncle's. 

"Bill,  you  must  do  your  best  pacing  this  morning,"  she 
said,  vaulting  into  the  saddle,  and  taking  up  the  reins. 

"How  many  times  have  I  and  George  walked  this  road  to 
school." 

And  even  the  very  pebbles  seemed  eloquent  with  the 
familiar  stories  of  the  days  of  childhood  and  innocence, 
as  her  favorite  horse  carried  her  easily,  swiftly  toward 
Trueman's  residence. 

"Oh,  that  we  were  now  as  we  were  then!"  Dora  ex- 
claimed, glancing  at  the  tall  trees  which  lined  the  road 
sides,  bearing  their  green  foliage  toward  Heaven  as  a  mead 
of  praise  to  the  God  of  Nature. 

But  the  imposing  scenery  of  her  childhood's  haunts  has 
few  attractions  for  her  this  morning.  This  is  the  last  day 
pending  the  time  appointed  for  George's  execution.  For 
BGven  long  days  she  has  indulged  the  hope  of. a  reprieve; 
and  scarcely  a  day  of  that  time  has  passed  that  she  has 
not  visited  her  condemned  brother  in  his  gloomy  confines, 
cheering,  comforting,  encouraging.     And  the  thought  that 

(157) 


158  THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY. 

the  remote  star  which  had,  during  this  period  of  anxious 
Ruspense,  penetrated,  with  its  faint  light,  George's  dark 
cell  abode,  uiight  before  the  setting  of  the  sun,  be  forever 
obscured  by  the  impenetrable  mists  of  death,  was  not  to 
be  dissipated  by  any  attraction,  either  natural   or  artificial. 

Day  by  day  had  the  deliverance  been  expected.  Hour 
bj  hour  had  Dora  labored  and  hoped  for  its  accomplish- 
ment. Persons  sustaining  the  most  influential  relatiocB 
to  the  President  had  been  implored  to  intercede.  They 
had  promised  to  make  their  best  eflforts  in  the  prisoner's 
behalf.  But  death,  horrible,  ghastly,  dishonorable,  now 
stood  upon  the  very  threshold,  and  all  efforts  to  save  the 
victimized  deserter  seamed,  thus  far,  fruitless. 

Flying  along  the  road,  absorbed  in  reflections  sad,  appre- 
hensious,  gloomy,  Dora  soon  arrived  at  Trueman's  and  was 
met  at  the  gate  by  her  loved  cousins,  Louie  and  Jennie,  who 
broke  to  her  the  unexpected  intelligence  that  her  Uncle 
John  and  Cousin  Albert  had  just  come  home  on  a  fur- 
lough for  three  weeks. 

•'Please  tell  them  to  come  out.  I  can  stay  but  a  minute. 
Business  now." 

"Won't  you  come  in?" 

"No,  no, — too  much  to  be  done  to-day."  And  Dora's 
horse,  apparently  partaking  of  her  restless  spirit,  headed 
toward  the  city. 

The  cousins  insisted  no  further,  knowing  that  this  day 
decided  the  fate  of  one  in  whom  centered  all  Dora's  hopes 
and  affections. 

"Did  you  ever  see  a  sister  so  devoted?"  Jennie  said  to 
Louie,  as  they  hastened  toward  the  house. 

They  were  absent  but  a  few  minutes,  when  they  returned, 
accompanied  by  the  battle-scarred  father  and  gallant 
brother,  who   greeted  Dora  warmly.     She  was  happy  and 


THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY, 


159 


yet  ashamed  to  see  them— happy  to  know  that  they  had 
escaped  all  the  dangers  of  the  bloody  gauntlet  they  had 
run,  and  ashanw-l  because,  instead  of  sharing  with  them 
the 'laurels  awarded  the  heroes  of  Vicksburg,  her  brother 
was  then  in  the  loathsome  dungoon  awaiting  the  deserter's 

doom. 

Trueman,  observing  her  embarrassment,  sought  to  re- 
move it,  not  by  avoiding  any  allusion  to  its  cause,  but  by 
a  manifestation  of  that  liberal  sympathy  which,  while  it 
condemns  sin,  loves  the  sinner;  for  he  knew  too  well  the 
human  heart  to  indorse  the  popular  error  that  a  cold  non- 
recognition  of  its  wounds,  heals  them;  and  taking  her 
aside,  he  said: 

"Dora,  I  understand  you  have  presented  the  Government 
Bome  letters  written  George  by  his  destroyer." 

"I  have." 

"Well,  I  have  a  stray  one  of  the  same  batch," — drawing 
from  his  side  pocket  a  rumpled  buff  envelope,  postmarked 
^'Indianapolis,"  containing  another  of  those  potent  wit- 
nesses against  the  treacherous  Ninnie. 

"The  best  of  them  all!"  exclaimed  Dora,  after  a  hasty 
perusal.  "See,  it  says:  'George,  your  love  of  the  Union 
is  thrown  away  on  a  rotten  Administration.  What  does 
Lincoln— what  does  his  shoulder-strapped  curs  care  Tor 
you?'  Murderous  composition,  that,  but  powerful  evi- 
dence. .  Too  late,  though,  I'm  afraid,  to  do  George  much 
good,  uncle." 

"Don't  give  up  yet;  may  be  I  can  do  something." 

"0,  if  you  will,  uncle!"  said  Dora,  looking  imploringly 
at  Captain  Trueman. 

"You  are  for  town?" 

"Yes." 

'*Ned,  bring  out  Jack." 


160  THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY. 

The  command  was  speedily  obeyed,  and  soon  the  captain 
and  Dora  were  galloping  toward  Indianapolis. 

"Where  do  you  propose  to  go,  uncle?"  asked  the  latter, 
as  they  entered  the  city. 

"At  once  to  General  Clarendon,"  replied  the  captain, 
urging  his  horse  forward.  ''lie  is  commander  of  the 
post;  and  from  my  acquaintance  with  him,  I  take  him  to 
be  an  officer  of  very  approachable  and  generous  charac- 
ter." 

Proceeding  directly  to  headquarters,  Trueman  inquired 
for  the  General. 

"He  is  at  the  jail,"  replied  a  clerk  standing  in  the  office 
door. 

"At  the  jail!"  and  the  captain  and  his  niece  wheeled, 
hurried  to  George's  place  of  confinement,  and  were  soon  in 
conference  with  the  post  commander. 

"Yes,"  said  the  general,  folding  a  letter  just  handed 
him  by  Trueman,  "Captain,  this  is  sufficient,  if  anything 
further  were  needed,  to  convict  Hardhead.  And  it  goes 
still  further  to  show  how  much  young  Clinton  is  the  victim 
of  copperhead  influence.     Poor  fellow." 

"0,  General!"  said  Dora,  beseechingly,  "can  anything 
be  done  yet  to  save  brother?" 

"It  isn't  too  late  to  try,"  replied  the  general,  hastily 
adjusting  his  cap.  "A  pardon  is  the  only  chance.  I'll 
telegraph  at  once," — hurrying  from  the  jail. 

"General  Clarendon  will  do  something  if  anything  can 
be  done,"  said  Trueman,  encouragingly  to  Dora. 

"Yes,  I  believe  that,  uncle."  And  Dora's  eyes  told  that 
a  new  hope  had  taken  possession  of  her  soul. 

Conceiving  that  they  could  do  nothing  further,  she  now 
proposed  a  visit  to  George,  and  the  captain  assenting,  made 


TUE    TEST    07    LOYALTT.  161 

immediate   application   to   the  jailor  for  admission  to  the 
prisoner's  cell. 

"lie  is  not  in  his  cell,"  said  the  turnkey.  "He  is  in 
that  room,"  pointing  to  a  doo^r  leading  into  one  of  the 
«.heritT"s  apartments,  adjoining  the  jail. 

Admitted  to  the  room  designated,  Dora  and  her  uncle 
ound  George  surrounded  by  army  chaplains  and  numerous 
vepresentatives  of  the  city  clergy,  who  were  laboring  zeal- 
ously, earnestly  to  prepare  his  soul  for  eternity.  Deeply 
adtated  in  view  of  his  approaching  dissolution,  despondent 
of  obtaining  forgiveness,  his  heart  chilled  with  gloomy 
anticipations  of  the  future,  imagine  his  feelings  in  that 
most  unhappy  moment,  upon  beholding  his  noble-hearted 
uncle,  whose  loyalty  had  stood  the  test  of  the  East  Tennes- 
see furnace,  whose  blood  had  stained  the  soil  of  rebeldom, 
whose  vast  wealth  had  all  been  sacrificed  upon  freedom^s 
altar,  whose  brow  was  crowned  with  the  fresh  laurels  of 
the  nations  proudest  victories,  standing  before  him. 

"Why,  George,  how — " 

"No!  no!  uncle,  this  is  not  George,"  replied  the  poor 
boy,  sobbing  bitterly,  and  reluctantly  extending  his  hand. 
"This  is  the  miserable  deserter,''  in  tones  that  would  have 
rended  the  heart  of  a  flint. 

"Could  you  be  spared,  would  you  atone  for  this?"  asked 
Trueman,  tenderly. 

"Atone!"  responded  George,  while  the  life-inspiring  in- 
fluence of  the  word  sent  the  blood  from  his  depressed  heart 
thrilling  along  every  artery,  and  brought  him  to  his  feet, 
erect.  "If  toil,  if  devotion  to  my  country,  if  every  drop 
of  blood  in  my  body  will  atone,  I  will  make  the  atone- 
ment." 

"His  eye  looks  as  it  used  to   upon  going  into  battle,' 
whispered  Trueman  to  Dora. 
11 


162  THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY. 

Trucman's  words  seemed  fall  of  promise  to  George,  and 
yet,  so  frequently  had  he  been  disappointed  that  he  would 
not  allow  himself  to  build  too  much  hope  upon  them.  But, 
still,  he  could  not  but  wish  that  all  which  might  be  inferred 
from  his  uncle's  question  might  be  realized.  And  why 
should  he  not  have  thus  wished?  Life  is  dear,  even  to 
those  who  stand  upon  the  very  out  boundary  of  time,  and 
it  may  reasonably  be  supposed  to  be  doubly  dear  to  those 
who  have  scarcely  passed  the  morning  of  their  existence. 
George  was  young,  vigorous,  hopeful,  ambitious;  had 
scarcely  tasted  the  sweets  of  life  ere  it  seemed  that  death 
had  knocked  at  his  chamber  door  and  demanded  entrance. 
With  talents  above  the  average,  fair  education  and  an 
almost  exhaustless  fund  of  energy,  what  lacked  he  but 
time  and  experience  to  give  real  existence  to  at  least  a  por- 
tion of  the  air  castles  of  his  boyhood  ? 

But  it  was  not  so  much  the  prospect  of  a  premature  as 
that  of  a  dishonorable  death,  which  had  chilled  George's 
heart  and  filled  his  soul  with  gloomy  forebodings.  Not- 
withstanding all  the  efi"orts  of  his  clerical  attendants,  his 
own  self-humiliation  and  repentance  during  that  dark 
morning,  still  it  had  been  impossible,  thus  far,  for  him  to 
get  his  own  consent  to  die.  The  crime  he  had  committed 
appeared  to  him  unpardonable.  He  was  orthodox  enough 
to  conceive  of  the  possibility  of  the  forgiveness  of  any 
other  sin  than  that  of  desertion.  Happy  had  it  been  for 
him  had  he  thus  reflected  ere  he  had  taken  the  step  so 
fatal  to  his  conscience,  to  his  honor. 

How  anxiously  did  he  await  some  further  development 
of  the  promise  to  which  that  one  encouraging  sentence 
had  given  rise.  How  earnestly  did  he  wish  that  Trueman's 
next  utterances  might  fan  into  a  glowinor  flame  the  embers 

O  DO 

of  hope  from  which  his  first  words  had  blown  the  ashes. 


THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY.  163 

But  Trueinan  was  silent — all  were  silent,  and  a  deathlike 
stillness  pervaded  the  room. 

There  was  another  in  the  same  apartment  whose  sus- 
pense was  equally  agonizing  with  George's,  and  that  was 
Dora. 

Time  with  her  dragged  along  at  a  miserably  slow  rate. 
Seconds  were  hours,  minutes  were  weeks,  hours  were  ages, 
and  still  the  general  did  not  appear,  nor  other  person 
in  his  stead.  It  would  not  do  to  tell  George  what  the 
general  had  promised;  for  his  mental  torture  was  already 
suflficient  without  having  it  intensified  by  the  most  bitter 
disappointment  conceivable.  "Oh,  that  he  would  come," 
is  the  burden  of  Dora's  every  sigh,  as,  with  abstractly  mov- 
ing lips,  she  turns  her  anxious  eyes,  anon,  to  the  clock. 

The  same  unutterable  uneasiness,  in  a  greater  or  less 
degree,  pervades  every  soul  present,  and  those  who  would 
essay  to  break  the  miserable  silence,  find  their  lips  chained, 
their  tongues  spell-bound;  and  thus  minutes,  hours  wear 
heavily  away,  when  a  rumbling  noise  is  heard  at  the  door, 
which,  suddenly  and  uncerimoniously  swinging  open,  an 
officer  enters  the  room  and  demands  the  prisoner.  His 
cold  look  and  stern  request,  startle  the  company,  and  strike 
terror  to  George  and  his  friends. 

"What,  has  the  hour  come?"  tremblingly  asked  Dora. 

"For  his  execution?  yes,"  replied  the  officer,  asking  and 
answering  the  question  in  the  same  breath. 

"And  no  relief!"  cried  Dora,  and  her  heart-rending  sobs 
agonized  every  soul. 

"It  must  be  so,  sister,"  said  George  in  sepulchral  tones. 
"I  have  contracted  the  debt,  /  must  pay  it,"  voluntarily 
giving  himself  up  to  the  officer. 

With  the  first  temporary  shock  passed  away  all  George's 
dread  of  the  execution,  and  strengthened  in  every  sinew 


164  THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY. 

bv  the  consciousness  that  he  had  repented  his  errors  and 
was  now  about  to  pay  the  full  penalty  of  his  crime,  he 
stepped  forward  toward  the  cab  which  was  waiting  to  carry 
him  to  the  dark  valley,  with  a  firmness  and  dignity  which 
commanded  the  admiration  of  every  observer. 

And  now  he  enters  the  little  black  chamber  upon  wheels — 
the  officer  by  his  side — the  door  is  closed  and  locked,  the 
driver  cracks  his  whip — the  key  note  to  the  discordent, 
excrutiating  dirge  now  to  be  wrung  from  Dora's  heart- 
strings by  the  bony  fingers  of  despair — and  at  a  rapid  rate 
tl>e  self-condemned  deserter  is  rolling  toward  the  gveen- 
turfed  death  bed  of  the  ill-fated  Gay. 

Dora,  with  the  small  remnant  of  energy  based  upon  the 
slender  hope  that,  ere  the  fatal  command  "Fire,"  shall  be 
given,  the  reprieve  may  _come,  has  rallied  sufficiently  to 
accompany  her  uncle  in  a  carriage — which,  with  instinctive 
tact,  he  has  obtained  in  exchange  for  Jack  and  Bill — and 
is  following  close-  in  the  rear  of  the  black  cab. 

Extending  back  the  distance  of  several  squares  is  a  pro- 
miscuous train  of  attendants — soldiers  mounted,  on  foot; 
citizens,  old^  young,  middle-aged;  lads,  lasses,  children;  all 
bending  forward  with  eager,  yet  gloomy  curiosity  to  wit- 
ness the  closing  scene  in  a  great  tragedy,  whose  leading 
characters  were  the  Southern  sympathizers  of  the  Hoosier 
State. 

The  cab  hurries  on,  and  only  the  carriages  and  horsemen 
are  able  to  keep  pace;  but  the  pedestrians,  bound  by  the 
strange  spell  of  a  desire  to  hear  the  death  groans  of  this 
unfortunate  boy,  press  anxiously  onward.  No  happy  face, 
nor  cheery  laugh,  nor  sunny  smile  may  be  observed  any 
where  throughout  the  entire  length  of  that  immense  train. 
But,  all  along  its  whole  extent,  over  every  human  soul,  is 
spread  the  black  wing  of  the  angel  of  death,  shutting  the 


THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY.  165 

light  of  the  sun  of  joy  out  of  every  heart.  The  cab  stops; 
George  steps  out,  in  the  midst  of  a  suburban  forest;  he 
sees  his  coffin — a  plain,  black  box  in  the  shade  of  a  spread- 
ing oak;  with  alacrity  he  obeys  the  order  to  take  his  seat 
upon  it;  a  few  preliminaries,  and  he  is  asked  if  he  has  any 
thing  to  say  to  the  assembled  multitude.  "Yes!"  is  the 
laconic  reply,  and  he  mounts  his  coffin — which,  in  the 
cause  of  his  country,  would  have  been  a  throne  of  glory, 
but  which,  in  the  cause  of  treason,  is  the  death'bed  of 
honor — and  says  : 

"Friends  and  countrymen:  my  words  shall  be  few.  I 
was  a  soldier;  I  loved  my  country;  I  fought  in  many  hard 
battles;  I  helped  to  win  victories;  I  was  honored.  I  lis- 
tened to  Northern  traitors;  I  learned  to  hate  the  Govern- 
ment; I  deserted  the  army;  I  die  a  dishonorable  death. 
Take  warning,  young  men!" 

He  resumes  his  seat;  a  file  of  soldiers  with  loaded  muskets 
form  in  his  front,  while  a  black  cap  is  drawn  over  his  head 
and  face.  "We  turn  to  look  at  the  assemblage;  no  dry  eyes 
are  to  be  seen;  even  the  hardy  veterans  who,  with  minnie 
balls,  are  to  sever  the  cord  which  unites  soul  and  body,  are 
moved  to  tears,  and  we  hear  one  of  them  say:  "I  fought 
with  that  fellow  at  Laurel  Hill.  A  braver  boy  never 
shouldered  a  musket."  We  turn  our  eyes  upward.  The 
heavens  are  draped  in  black,  and  the  massive  green  heads 
of  the  forest  giants  seem  bowed  in  the  spirit  of  mourning, 
while  a  heavy  breeze  is  playing  a  melancholy  requiem 
among  their  drooping  boughs.  We  think  of  Dora.  Where 
is  she?  Yonder,  lying  under  a  maple,  her  head  resting 
upon  her  uncle's  lap.  Has  she  swooned?  The  brisk 
movement  of  fans  and,  the  frequent  application  of  cold 
water  to  her  brow,  reply.  Poor  girl !  She  has  schemed 
and  toiled  day  and  night  to  save  her  brother;  but  death, 


166  THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY. 

grim,  unrelenting,  has  now  placed  himself  between  hej 
and  him,  and  hope  has  fled. 

Hark!  The  low  command:  "Make  ready! — Aim!"'  And 
twenty  muskets  are  leveled  at  George. 

"Hold!"  cries  a  voice,  whose  tones  ring  through  the 
grand  old  forest  like  the  notes  of  a  silver  trumpet,  and 
turn  a  thousand  eyes  toward  the  place  whence  they  proceed, 

"Hold!"  And  a  rider,  mounted  on  a  foaming  steed, 
dashes  between  the  muzzles  of  the  muskets  and  the  de- 
serter, and  hands  the  executing  officer  a  paper. 

The  officer  commands  an  "order  arms,"  opens  and  reads. 
He  folds  it,  and  turning  to  our  hero,  says:  "George 
Clinton:  the  high  crime  you  have  committed  against  the 
military  laws  of  the  United  States,  is  pardoned  by  the 
President!     Go,  and  sin  no  more." 

"Huzza!"  goes  up  from  a  thousand  throats  at  once;  and 
as  the  glad  news  runs  from  group  to  group,  caps  and  hats 
by  the  hundred  rise  in  the  air,  and  the  heavens  ring  with 
shouts  of  rejoicing.  Meanwhile  George's  cap  has  been  re- 
moved, and  he  and  Dora  stand  in  sweet  embrace,  while 
tears  of  sympathetic  joy  are  watering  the  taivned  cheeks 
©'f  the  noble  uncle,  who,  with  head  bared,  is  giving  thanks 
to  the  Common  Father. 


CHAPTER   XVI. 


THE   SONS   OF    LIBERTY. 

"Have  you  heard  the  news,  father?"  asked  Dora  Clinton^ 
approaching  her  parents  as  they  sat  together  in  the  family 
sitting  room,  quietly  talking  over  some  of  their  domestic 
affairs. 

"What  news?" 

"Why,  the  exposure  of  the  Sons  of  Liberty,"  and  Dora 
drew  from  her  pocket  a  copy  of  a  morning  paper,  and, 
seating  herself,  read  an  extended  exposition  of  the  treason- 
able organization  to  which  she  had  called  her  father's 
attention. 

"W^hat  in  the  world  does  this  mean?"  exclaimed  Mr. 
Clinton,  taken  completely  by  surprise. 

"In  the  name  o'  sense!  don't  that  beat  the  beater?"  said 
Mrs.  Clinton.  "Jist  look  at  the  names — Venom,  Hard- 
head, Dodge,  Skulker,  Eiskall,  Trotter,  Truckler, — wy,  ole 
man,  I'm  afeared  the  thing'll  swaller  up  the  whole  Dimo- 
cratic  party." 

"Is  that  report  reliable,  though?"  inquired  the  old  gen- 
tleman. 

"It  ought  to  be,"  replied  Dora.  "It  comes  from  Gene- 
ral Clarendon." 

"Is  that  so?  Well,  all  I  have  to  say  is,  that  if  the 
leaders  af  my  o-ld  party  are  running  into  that,  we  may  bid 

(167) 


168  THE   TEST   O'P   LOYALTY. 

good-bye  to  Democracy,"  and  a  cloud  of  shame  gathered 
upon  Mr.  Clinton's  brow. 

Until  now  he  had  had  no  authentic  evidence  of  the  trea- 
sonable character  of  the  men  who  composed  the  head  and 
front  of  the  Democratic  party.  They  had  only  talked  to 
him  of  the  tyrany  of  the  Abolition  Administration;  of 
illegal  military  arrests,  unconstitutional  measures,  viola- 
tion of  State  and  personal  rights,  the  suspension  of  the 
writ  of  habeas  corj^us,  the  heineousness  of  the  emancipation 
proclamation,  etc.  Long  as  the  traitorous  conspiritors  had 
worked  upon  him,  they  had  never  entrusted  him  with  any 
of  their  secrets;  for  they  were  well  assured,  in  their  own 
minds,  that  to  unbosom  their  destructive  designs  to  him 
would  be  to  disgust  him  with  the  party,  and  drive  hira 
from  it.  They  were  satisfied  to  revive  and  strengthen,  by 
their  assiduous  efforts,  his  old  prejiidices  against  Aboli- 
tionism, and  thereby  to  secure  his  vote  against  the  prosecu- 
tion of  the  war  for  the  Union.  In  the  meantime,  so  con- 
stantly had  they  assured  him  that  their  only  object  was  to 
purify  the  Government,  and  that  they  entertained  no  such 
idea  as  the  acknowledgment  of  the  independence  of  the 
seceded  States;  that  they  were  for  the  Union  and  the  whole 
Union:  that  it  was  not  a  change  of  Government,  but  a 
change  of  policy  they  desired — so  persistently  had  they 
labored  in  impressing  Mr.  Clinton  with  these  notions  that 
h?  had  come  to  believe  his  party  one  of  the  purest  that 
hnd  ever  figured  in  political  history. 

Clinton  had  not,  with  all  his  Democratic  prejudices,  a 
single  element  of  the  traitor  in  his  heart:  and  so  perfectly 
confiding  was  he  that  he  had,  notwithstanding  their  palpa- 
ble inconsistencies,  been  wholly  unable  to  observe  anything 
radically  wrong  or  treasonable  in  the  Democratic  leaders 
of  1862  and  1863.     The  tact,  the  assiduity  of  disappointed 


THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY.  169 

politicians,  the  ingenious  sophistry  of  Democratic  news- 
papers, had  succeeded  in  convincing  him  that  the  great 
object  of  the  war  was  the  abolition  of  slavery;  that  the 
Emancipation  Proclamation  had  divided  the  North,  united 
the  South,  and  that  the  restoration  of  the  Democracy  to 
power  was  the  only  hope  for  the  salvation  of  the  country. 
So  fixed,  in  fact,  had  become  these  convictions,  that  even 
the  treacherous  worliings  of  the  Southern  sympathizers  to 
induce  his  son's  desertion,  had  not  caused  him  to  suspicion 
his  party.  All  the  villainous  schemes  and  efforts  of  young 
Hardhead  were,  in  his  estimation,  traceable  only  to 
wounded  personal  pride  and  the  revengeful  spirit  arising 
therefrom. 

Hence,  it  was  not  with  the  greatest  readiness  that  he 
could  receive  the  exposition  of  the  Sons  of  Liberty  as 
authentic  and  reliable.  And  more  especially  was  it  diflS- 
cult  for  him  to  believe  this  a  correct  report  on  account  of 
its  coming  through  what  he  regarded  as  an  abolition  paper. 

How  wonderfully  subservient  are  all  the  faculties  of  the 
human  mind  to  prejudice. 

The  fact,  however,  that  General  Clarendon's  name  was 
appended  to  this  exposure,  was  sufScient  to  set  Mr.  Clin- 
ton to  thinking,  doubting,  and  he  resolved  to  investigate 
the  matter.  The  general's  noble  intercession  in  his  son's 
behalf  had  inspired  him  with  a  very  high  opinion  of  that 
officer — for  there  is  one  direct  road  through  a  father's  pre- 
judices, however  strong,  to  his  heart — and  that  lies  through 
the  heart  of  his  child — and  he  determined  to  see  the 
general  in^  person,  and  obtain  from  him  a  personal 
confirmation  of  the  published  report.  And  so  feverish 
had  grown  his  curiosity  while  Dora  was  reading  that  he 
resolved  to  w.iste  no  time  in  carrying  out  his  resolution. 


170  THE   TEST   OF    LOYALTY. 

"Old  woman,  I'm  going  to  town,"  said  he.  rising  and 
calling  for  his  Sunday  coat  and  vest. 

"What,  right  away,  ole  man?' 

"Yes,  right  away.     Do  you  want  to  go  along?" 

"No." 

"Do  you,  Dora?" 

"I  believe  not,  father." 

"Then  you  may  tell  Dick  to  bring  out  one  of  the  old 
horses." 

The  horse  was  soon  produced,  and  Mr.  Clinton,  excited 
by  his  anxiety  to  obtain  a  more  definite  knowledge  of  the 
Sons  of  Liberty,  made  more  than  usual  haste  to  the  city. 
Arriving  there  at  an  early  hour  in  the  forenoon,  the  first 
man  he  met  was  Hardhead,  who  seemed  unusually  glad  to 
see  him,  and  taking  him  aside,  began  talking  to  him  at 
once  about  the  exposure  of  the  treasonable  organization, 
admitting  that  there  was  such  an  order,  but  that  its  only 
object  was  the  defense  of  the  ballot  box — the  securing  of  a 
fair  election. 

"Why,"  said  Clinton,  after  listening  to  Hardhead  for 
some  time,  "we  have  always  had  a  fair  election  out  our 
way.  Our  township,  at  the  last  two  elections,  polled  strong 
Democratic  majorities,  and  nobody  was  prevented  from 
casting  a  legal  vote." 

"Yes,  but  it  is  difi"erent  here,  and  in  some  other  places. 
The  Governor  employs  the  military  here  to  control  the 
elections — has  the  soldiers  to  vote  (although  its  unconsti- 
tutional) and  drives  Democrats  from  the  polls." 

'•  Well,  now,  I  have  never  heard  of  any  man  being  driv^en 
from  the  polls  who  behaved  himself,  Hardhead.  I  know 
that  Dr.  Blatherskite  and  a  few  others  like  him  have  been 
pretty  roughly  handled;  but  I  have  no  doubt  they  could 


THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY.  171 

have  voted  without  any  trouble  if  they  had  kept  their 
foolish  mouths  shut.     Don't  you  think  so?" 

"Well,  I  don't  know,  Clinton.  But  then,  look  how  the 
elections  have  been  managed  in  Kentucky.  Maryland,  and 
Missouri." 

Clinton  saw  that  Hardhead  was  foiled  by  his  simple, 
strright-forward  statement  of  facts,  and  that,  together  with 
the  admission  that  there  did  exist  such  an  organization  as  the 
Sons  of  Liberty,  tended  to  shake  his  faith  in  Democracy  more 
than  anything  he  had  ever  met.  In  fact,  so  shocked  was  he 
with  Hardhead's  confession  and  attempts  to  apologize  for 
the  existence  of  treason  in  his  party,  that  he  could  not 
endure  the  idea  of  perpetuating  the  conversation,  and  with 
a  hasty  good  morning,  left  Hardhead  and  went  elsewhere 
in  search  of  information.  Passing  up  Main  street,  he  met 
a  number  of  Democrats,  and  out  of  some  dozens,  he  only 
found  three  who  were  not  ashamed  to  acknowledge  any 
sympathy  or  affiliation  with  the  Sons  of  Liberty.  Drop- 
ping into  a  grocery  store  he  picked  up  a  copy  of  the  chief 
Democratic  organ  of  Indiana.  Although  it  was  a  late 
paper,  it  bore  the  appearance  of  considerable  wear.  It 
had  evidently  been  much  handled.  The  very  first  article 
that  attracted  his  attention  was  an  editorial  headed,  "The 
Exposure  of  the  Sons  of  Liberty." 

'■'Now,"  soliloquized  he,  in  low  tones,  "we'll  hear  from 
the  other  side  authoritatively." 

And  adjusting  his  spectacles  he  bent  himself  eagerly 
to  the  task  of  reading.  He  had  not  read  half  the  first 
column  when  he  stopped  and  abstractly  exclaimed: 

"My  God!  Can  it  be  true?"  while  the  quivering  sheet 
he  held  in  his  hand  told  how  intense  was  the  indignation 
which  burned  within  him.  Besting  a  moment,  as  if  to 
gain  composure,  he  resumed  his  task.     As  he  approached 


172  THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY. 

the  closing  lines,  the  dark  frown  Trhich  sat  upon  his 
wrinkled  brow,  the  keen  flashings  of  an  eye  which  had 
lost  little  of  its  youthful  fire  by  the  nietamorphising  effects 
of  time,  told  in  language  which  tongue  could  not  utter, 
the  outraged  character  of  his  feelings. 

"Shocking!  shocking!  abominable!"  he  murmured  to 
himself,  throwing  the  paper  upon  the  counter,  and  moving 
nervously  out  upon  the  sidewalk.  "That's  enough  for 
me.  No  use  to  go  any  further.  The  editor  not  only  owns 
up  the  existence  of  the  'Sons  of  Liberty,'  but  boasts  of 
their  number  and  power;  and  winds  up  by  pompously 
exhorting  them  ^ to  arms;'  says  the  day  has  'come  for 
daring  deeds'  May  God  save  me  and  my  neighbors  when 
those  daring  deeds  commence.  Sons  of  Liberty — heavens! 
how  much  is  that  word  disgraced,  since  devils  use  it  for 
their  name." 

And  Mr.  Clinton  walked  with  more  than  usual  uimble- 
ness,  in  the  direction  of  his  horse.  Two  hours  from  this 
time  found  him  at  home  relating  to  his  wife  and  Dora  the 
results  of  his  forenoon's  investigation. 

"There  haint  no  doubt  about  there  a  bein  sich  a  thing 
as  you  say,  ole  man?"  asked  3Irs.  Clinton,  drawing  up  her 
eyebrows  and  looking  very  inquiringly  at  her  husband. 

"No  doubt,  at  all.  I  tell  you  the  editor  owns  it,  and 
calls  on  the  Sons  of  Liberty  to  rise.'' 

"Yes,  and  suppose  they  do  rise,  father,"  said  Dora, 
"what  will  become  of  your  property,  and  everybody  else's? 
AVould  anybody  or  anything  be  safe?  Don't  the  fools 
know  they  propose  a  game  at  which  two  can  play?  But 
there  is  no  danger  of  their  rising.  They  are  not  of  the 
rising  kind — but,  by  the  way,  what  do  you  think  of  De- 
mocracy now,  father?" 


TUE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY.  173 

"Oh!  don't  talk  to  me  about  Domocracy.  There  is 
none  of  it  any  more." 

That's  so,  ole  man.  It's  played  out,  as  the  boys  say," 
replied  Mrs.  Clinton. 

Dora  remained  silent  Tvhile  her  parents  continued  the 
conversation,  noting  with  a  high  degree  of  pleasure,  the 
effects  of  the  steam  system  of  political  medication  as 
adopted  by  her  in  the  cure  of  her  father's  chronic  disease. 
She  saw  that  the  time  was  rapidly  approaching  when  he 
would  see,  as  she  had  long  seen,  that  the  Democratic  party 
was  under  the  control  and  management  of  traitors;  that 
those  who  superintended  the  working  of  its  machinery  were 
directing  the  party  against  the  Government;  that  those 
who  were  opposing  the  Administration  and  crying  peace 
were  the  Union's  worst  enemies,  Jeff.  Davis'  best  friends. 
The  exposure  of  the  Sons  of  Liberty  did  not  surprise  her. 
She  had  long  been  satisfied  of  the  existence  of  such  an 
organization,  but  had  made  very  little  effort  to  convince 
her  father  of  it,  because  she  knew  the  scales  of  his  party 
prejudice  had  been  too  frequently  inlaid  by  industrious 
demagogues  to  allow  of  his  admitting  the  possibility  of 
the  Democratic  party's  being  tainted  with  treason.  But 
now,  that  the  disloyal  schemes  of  the  leading  politicians 
of  the  State's  rights  school  had  been  authenticly  exposed, 
and  that  the  most  influential  of  these  politicians  had  openly 
acknowledged  their  guilt  and  boastfully  defied  the  Gov- 
ernment, she  could  but  rejoice  within  herself,  that  such 
developments  promised  the  speedy  deliveran.ce  of  her 
father. 


CHAPTER    XVII 


THE   PLOT   DISCOVERED — THE    CONVERSION. 

It  was  a  gloomy  Sunday  afternoon.  The  sun's  light  was 
obscured  by  low,  heavy  clouds,  from  which  was  continually 
falling  one  of  those  chilling  mists,  which  impart  to  all 
nature  the  aspect  of  melancholy. 

The  Clintons  had  attended  church  in  the  capital,  at 
which  place,  meeting  the  Trueman  family,  they  had  accom- 
panied the  latter  home,  where  all  were  seated  together  in 
the  family  setting  room,  busily  engaged  in  conversation. 

'*  How  many  boxes  did  you  say,  brother  Ingram?"  asked 
Mrs.  Trueman,  in  a  manner  which  denoted  the  most  pro- 
found interest. 

"Over  thirty,  containing  revolvers  and  fixed  ammunition." 

"And  where  did  you  say  they  were  found?" 

•'At  Skulker's  job  printing  office — some  of  them  marked 
type,  others,  books,  &c," 

"Who  told  you  this?" 

"One  of  the  boys  that  works  in  the  office." 

"Is  any  body  arrested?" 

"Nearly  everybody  but  the  right  ones,  it  seems.  Two 
or  three  who  proved  themselves  clear  of  having  any  hand 
in  the  matter,  have  been  released,  while  Skulker  can't  be 
found.  The  young  man  who  told  me,  said  the  entire  office 
was  under  guard,  and  that  some  of  the  soldiers  had  made 
(174) 


THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY.  175 

a  raid  through  some  of  the  back  rooms  and  had  captured 
a  vest  and  plug  of  tobacco  belonging  to  him." 

"Pshaw!  what's  a  plug  of  tobacco?"  interrupted  Dora. 

"You  never  mind.  Let  me  tell  it  my  own  way.  As  I 
was  about  to  say,  the  young  man  seemed  considerably  ag- 
grieved over  his  loss,  and  said  he  was  glad  that  the  office 
would  soon  change  hands,  so  as  to  take  it  entirely  out  of 
politics." 

••But,  what  was  the  object  of  this  secret  deposit  of 
arms?"  asked  Mrs,  Trueman. 

"To  resist  the  draft.  At  least,  that's  the  general  im- 
pression." 

"What  do  you  think  of  it?" 

"Why,  I  think  it's  devilish.  That's  about  all  the  way 
I  can  express  it." 

"Then  you  don't  go  with  your  party  when  it  comes  to  a 
thing  of  that  kind?" 

"My  party!     Do  you  mean  the  Democratic  party ?'^     - 

"Yes." 

"  There  is  no  such  party  any  more.  No,  I  have  not  left 
my  party.  My  party  have  left  me  and  every  other  honest 
man,  and  formed  a  league  with  Jeflf.  Davis  and  the  Devil. 
The  ritual  of  the  Sons  of  Liberty  is  enough  to  satisfy  any 
body  of  that — 'A  republic  upon  the  basis  of  color  and 
grades  of  civilization.  Resistance  to  tyrants  not  only  a 
right  but  a  duty." 

"Why,  brother,  I'm  afraid  you'll  get  to  be  an  Abolitionist 
if  you  don't  look  out,"  said  Mrs.  Trueman,  jokingly. 

"  Call  me  Abolitionist,  or  what  you  please.  I  am  any 
thing  but  a  traitor."  And  Clinton  lapsed  into  a  silence 
which  indicated  that  he  did  not  enjoy  Mrs.  Trueman's  sally 
as  well  as  she  had  intended  he  should. 

The  truth  is,  Clinton  had  been  for  some  days  in  anything 


176  THE    TEST    OF    UOYALTY. 

but  a  happy  mood.  It  wa>  txtrerae' y  iiU;itirylM;r  to  him 
to  know  that  his  old  party,  so  illustrious  in  ihe  liij^tory  of 
the  past,  so  thoroughly  identified  v.ith  the  gro\Yth  and 
development  of  the  country  had,  during  the  nations  great- 
est, most  trying  struggle  for  its  own  existence,  passed  into 
the  hands  of  men  who  had  converted  it  into  an  eneni}'  to 
liberty  and  law.  Naturally  enthusiastic  and  adhesive,  he 
had  been  most  devotedly  attached  to  Democracy.  There 
was,  to  him,  a  charm  in  the  very  name.  He  had  voted  for 
^11  the  Democratic  presidents;  had  come  to  believe  that  the 
only  policy  upon  which  a  republic  could  be  safely  based 
was  that  of  his  party.  Under  these  circumstances  it  was 
but  natural  that  he  should  experience  a  melancholy  regret 
in  beholding  the  death  o<f  Democracy,  somewhat  akin  to 
the  sorrow  we  feel  in  giving  up  a  very  dear  friend.  The 
discovery  and  capture  of  secreted  arms  and  ammunition, 
had  fully  confirmed  all  that  had  been  said  of  the  designs 
of  the  Sons  of  Liberty,  and  exhibited  a  degree  of  fiendish 
hazzard  of  which  he  did  not  think  them  capable.  That 
they  had  the  control  and  management  of  the  Democratic 
party,  there  was  not  in  his  mind  the  least  doubt;  that  their 
intention  was  to  inaugerate  civil  war  in  the  North,  and  in- 
volve every  Democrat  in  it,  there  could  no  longer  be  any 
doubt. 

But,  notwithstanding  the  woeful  degeneracy  of  the  Dem- 
ocratic party  and  Clinton's  abhorence  of  the  treasonable 
schemes  of  its  leaders,  and,  notwithstanding  his  fixed  de- 
termination to  identify  himself  no  longer  with  that  party, 
there  was  something  about  the  word  Abolitionist  which  he 
could  not  very  well  relish.  Without  any  accurate  knowl- 
edge of  the  true  meaning  of  that  word,  he  had  for  years 
regarded  it  as  expressive  of  all  that  is  corrupt  and  damna- 
ble in  politics.     Such  had  be«n  the  number  and  variety  of 


THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY.  177 

dark,  repugnent  interpretations  given  of  it  to  him  through 
Democratic  mediums,  that  its  very  sound  conveyed  to  his 
mind  anything  but  agreeable  sensations. 

Dora,  who  sat  an  attentive  listener  during  the  conver- 
sation which  passed  between  her  father  and  aunt,  was 
thoroughly  acqujiinted  with  the  former's  feelings  touching 
this  matter.  She  had  been  an  eye  and  ear  witness  to  the 
mental  throes  which  his  renunciation  of  Democracy  had 
cost  him.  She  knew  that,  although  he  was  effectually 
alienated  from  his  old  party,  there  had  not  yet  elapsed 
sufficient  time  for  him  to  form  any  new  attachments — that 
while  he  was  certainly  no  longer  a  Democrat,  of  the  modern 
school,  he  was  not  yet  a  good  Abolitionist.  She  knew  that 
her  father  was  not  a  man  who  would  humble  his  pride  by 
seeking  an  immediate  change  of  heart  at  a  political  mourn- 
ers' bench,  and  that  considerable  time  and  reflection  would 
be  required  to  produce,  in  his  case,  a  sound  and  thorough 
coversion  to  Abolitionism.  She  had  seen  her  father  through 
two  or  three  changes  during  the  progress  of  the  war,  and 
had  noticed  that  those  peculiar  democratic  prejudices 
against  interfering  with  slavery,  had  adhered  to  him  with 
remarkable  tenacity,  under  almost  all  circumstances.  She 
also  knew  that  he  was  a  man  who  would  not  endure  too 
much  persuasion,  nor  the  smallest  amount  of  twitting;  that 
the  most  successful  method  of  modifying  or  of  removing 
any  erroneous  opinions  entertained  by  him,  was  simply  to 
present  him  with  facts  and  allow  him  time  to  digest  them ; 
that  the  surest  plan  by  which  to  impress  him  favorably 
with  any  theory,  either  new  or  repugnant  to  him,  was  to 
furnish  him  with  the  facilities  for  free  investigation.  She 
had  witnessed,  with  pleasure,  the  happy  change  produced 
in  him  by  recent  developments,  and  was  exceedingly 
anxious  that  the  course  his  mind  had  voluntarily  taken  in 
12 


178  THE    TEST    OF    LOYALTY. 

the  direction  of  political  progress,  should  not  be  inter- 
rnpted  by  any  nnfavorable  influences.  Hence  she  resolved, 
upon  her  father's  temporary  withdrawal  from  the  conver- 
sational arena,  to  engage  her  aunt  in  his  stead. 

"Father  is  not  exactly  an  Abolitionist,  aunt;  but  be 
knows  that  these  fellows  who  have  been,  from  time  to  time, 
meeting  in  secret  conclaves  and  purchasing  arms  in  such 
quantities,  and  under  such  circumstances  as  they  have, 
must  be  traitors,  actively  engaged  against  the  Government." 

"And,  in  that  opinion,  he  is  certainly  right,  Dora.  But, 
from  what  he  said  concerning  the  ritual  of  the  Sons  of 
Liberty,  I  supposed  he  had  become  a  real  Abolitionist, 
and  was  disposed  to  joke  him  a  little  about  it." 

"Father  never  was  really  a  lover  of  slavery.  You  see, 
he  understands  the  ritual  to  say  in  substance  that  its  framers 
are  in  favor  of  establishing  a  new  government  with  slavery 
in  every  State  of  the  Union." 

"Ah!  that  way." 

"Yes.  Father  was  never  so  much  of  a  pro-slavery  man 
as  to  want  to  live  in  a  slave  State,  or  to  own  negroes,  but 
he  was  always  opposed  to  interfering  with  the  institution 
in  States  where  it  legally  existed." 

"Well,  that  is  liberal,  I'm  sure.  But,  then,  I'm  think- 
ing he'll  see  yet,  what  experience  has  forced  me  to  believe, 
against  my  inclinations,  that  slavery  and  liberty  can  not 
dwell  together  in  harmony  in  a  republic;  that  either  slavery 
or  the  Government  must  perish.  If  the  institution  has 
made  traitors  in  the  North,  among  men  who  have  no  real 
interest  in  it,  what  may  you  expect  of  it  in  the  South, 
among  those  who  have  brought  this  war  upon  the  country 
solely  on  its  account?" 

This  last  remark  of  Mrs.  Trueman's,  struck  Mr.  Clinton 
as  being  one  of  peculiar  force — as  containing  an  idea  which 


THE   TEST    OF    LOYALTY.  1'^^ 

had  never  occurred  to  him;  and  as  Dora  and  ''er  auntcon- 
tinned  talking  he  determined  to  make  th>s  new  thought  a 
matter  of  considerable  reflection.  ■ 

The  clock  struck  two,  and  the  conversation  was  mter- 
rupted  by  the  cook's  announcing  dinner.     Sunday  d.nne 
Ire  generally  late,  especially  with  people  who  go  from  the 
country  to  chureh  in  the  city. 

The  repast  over,  the  Clintons  went  home,  the  old  gentle- 
man  during  the  drive,  revolving  over  and  over  m  lus  m.n  , 
TheMnt  dropped  by  Mrs.  Trueman:     "If  slavery  has  made 
raitts  in  the^North,  among  men  who  have  no  real  ,n teres 
n  it,  what  may  you  expect  of  it  in  the  South,  -ong  tho^ 
who  have  brought  the  war  on  the  country  solely  on  its 
rcconnt  ••     This  thought  finally  led  to  several  others;  and 
tie  old  carriage  moved  along,  Clinton  ^ound  hims  1^ 
mentally,  asking  and  answering  questions  something  like 

'':Wll:tve  injured  me  and  my  family  more  than  any 
bodvele.  Anti-war  men.  Who  have  shown  themseve, 
Lylt  friends  when  I  was  in  trouble?  Abolitionists^ 
Who  tried  to  ruin  my  son?  An  antiwar  man.  Who 
Tcued  my  Ly  from  a  dishonorable  death?    The  Abolition 

^ThusTe'Ltinued  musing  until  the  family  arrived  at 
home,  wheh  he  seated  himself  near  the  jam  of  his  o  d^ 
fashioned  fire  place,  thoroughly  convinced  in  bis  own  mind 
rat  he  rebelfion  was  radically  wrong,  that  the  Govern 
ment  was  ri-ht;  that  slavery  is  a  damning  curse,  an  enemy 
To"  an^d  eace;  that  the  war  could  be  ende  and  the 
Union  permanently  restored  only  upon  the  Abolition  basis^ 
That  the  Government  must  destroy  slavery  or  be  destroyed 
by  it. 


180  THE   TEST    OP    LOYALTY. 

George  Clinton  has  retrieved  his  character  in  more  than 
a  score  of  hard  fought  battles.  The  memory  of  his  crime 
has  been  obliterated  by  unflinching  fidelity  and  heroic 
deeds.  He  had  buried  the  stigma  of  deserter  amid  showers 
of  cannon  balls  and  volleys  of  musketry.  IJe  has  re- 
established his  reputation  for  bravery  in  hazardous  charges 
upon  massed  columns  of  bristling  bayonets.  His  gallant 
services  have  been  rewarded  by  gradual  promotion,  and 
he  now  occupies  the  rank  of  adjutant,  and  is  the  idol  of 
his  regiment.  His  heroic  sister  rejoices  in  his  redemption 
and  the  discomfiture  of  his  heartless  betrayer,  who,  strip- 
ped of  his  rank,  loathed  and  contemned,  occupies  private 
rooms  in  Fort  Lafayette.  His  brave  uncle,  no  longer  the 
object  of  his  jealousy,  is  in  command  of  a  regiment,  while 
his  noble-hearted  cousin,  Albert,  has  been  commissioned  a 
captain.  His  aunt  and  her  daughters  are  happy  in  their 
Hoosier  home,  secure  from  the  devastating  tread  of  South- 
ern vandals.  His  father  and  caother,  so  vacillating  in 
their  views  of  the  great  issue,  so  inconstant  in  their  love 
of  country  during  the  first,  second,  and  part  of  the  third 
years  of  the  war,  have  had  their  eyes  opened  to  the  real 
character  and  designs  of  those  traitorous  party  leaders, 
in  whose  wake  they  followed  too  long,  and  are  soundly  con- 
verted to  the  Union  cause. 

We  are  sorry  to  tell  the  reader  that  we  can  not  say 
whether  any  of  the  unmarried  folks  who  figured  in  this 
work  have  indulged  iu  matrimony. 


RARE  BOOK 
COLLECTION 


THE  LIBRARY  OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF 

NORTH  CAROLINA 

AT 

CHAPEL  HILL 

Wilmer 
571 


